Mastic asphalt for long term solution to Gangtok roads

KUNAL RAI

GANGTOK,: All the inner-city roads in Gangtok that fall under Urban Development department are being upgraded using a special material which lasts a long time with little maintenance.
Urban Development minister Arun Upreti today said mastic asphalt will be used to ensure pothole-free road. “We are using mastic asphalt for durability and long term solution to the inner-city connectivity. Road up-gradation works at regular interval creates harassment to the commuters, so as a concrete solution the mastic asphalt is being used,” he said.
The total length of the road network in Gangtok is about 40 km. The project is being undertaken under Smart City.   
Likewise, the minister also mentioned the pedestrian walkway being developed under Smart City Project, from Ranipool to Gangtok. He requested the people having houses along the road to extend cooperation to the developers for early completion of the project.
“As the project is being done under Smart City Project, the work needs to be completed within a given time frame. Hence it is necessary for all to extend support for completion of the pedestrian walkway,” Upreti urged.
Urban Development officials informed that apart from upgrading the inner-city roads, the department is also developing drainages, signage and reflectors along the road.