NH 10 to be closed for six days in two-phases

GANGTOK, : NH 10, the principal route to Sikkim and Kalimpong, will remain closed for six days in two phases this month for undertaking emergent road strengthening works by the NHIDCL between Sevoke and Rangpo. People visiting Sikkim are advised to take alternative routes during this closure period.

A NHIDCL office order informs that movement of vehicles will be regulated along N10 from May 9 to 11, and from May 13 to 15. Though there are brief window periods lasting one hour to two hours for vehicles to move at various intervals, the timings are not suitable to make a dash along the NH 10 during this closure period.

Movement of heavy vehicles are prohibited even during the intermittent hours of the NH 10 opening. Internal movement of NHIDCL and IRCON vehicles working on the Sevoke-Rangpo section are allowed at the work locations.

During this highway closure period, vehicles heading to Sikkim or leaving Sikkim usually take the alternative routes via Kalimpong which stretch their journey by an extra two hours.

As per the NHIDCL, slope protection and landslide mitigation works are to be undertaken at multiple vulnerable locations between Sevoke-Rangpo stretch of NH 10. Valley side protection works are also planned to restore damage caused to the highway by the 2023 flash flood.

The NH 10 had suffered extensive damage, especially between Sevoke and Rangpo, during the 2023 flash flood. The highway’s condition further crumbled during the 2024 monsoon during which it remained closed for almost three months. In October 2024, the Centre transferred the NH 10 to NHIDCL from the West Bengal PWD.