Gangtok launches ‘Mission Clean Sky’ to tackle cable mess and restore city’s charm

PANKAJ DHUNGEL

GANGTOK, : Gangtok District Administration has initiated 'Mission Clean Sky' to tackle wires and cables across Gangtok skies and streets, in an attempt to restore capital city Gangtok's charm.

Gangtok District Magistrate Tushar Nikhare on Monday said that the ongoing drive is not just about beautification but also about long-term disaster management and enhancing the experience for tourists and residents alike.

Explaining the origins of the initiative, Nikhare recalled how it began with a small clean-up around the Lal Bazaar Shopping Complex.

“It took us 10 to 20 days just to direct internet service providers to clean their wires. Then we thought, why stop there? Tourists appreciate the beauty of Gangtok and MG Marg, but the common feedback was that hanging cables spoil the charm of the place. That is how we decided to scale up this initiative,” he said.

Under Mission Clean Sky, internet service providers have been directed to remove redundant connections left behind when consumers switch providers. “If you remove the dead weight, 50 percent of the problem is solved. For active wires, we are asking providers to either take them underground or route them through building ledges that can support them,” the District Magistrate explained.

Nikhare also underlined the disaster management dimension of the drive. “When disasters happen, tangled and unregulated cables make the situation worse. Cleaning up these networks helps reduce vulnerabilities,” he said.

Now in its third week, ‘Mission Clean Sky’ is being spearheaded by the district administration with support from the District Disaster Management team. Initially limited to internet service providers, the drive has expanded to include power and water lines after public feedback.

“Government utilities will take longer since they are policy-driven, but directions have been issued,” Nikhare added.

The work is being carried out in weekly phases, starting from Gangtok’s busiest areas. “MG Marg is our prime area of concern, followed by Lal Bazaar. Today, we extended the drive to the highway stretch from the taxi stand to Paljor Namgyal Girls School Road. We want to start with the heart of the town and then take this forward to localities,” the District Magistrate said. Each week, 7–10 day deadlines are set, with follow-up reviews to monitor progress.

Acknowledging the inconvenience caused to citizens due to temporary service disruptions, Nikhare appealed for patience. “There will be some inconvenience. Internet has become a basic necessity, and people will feel the impact. But this is for a bigger cause. No cost will be passed on to consumers—we are banking on internet service providers to bear the expense as part of their corporate responsibility,” he clarified.