Sikkim seeks to cut Siliguri-Gangtok travel time to 1.5 hours

GANGTOK, : Sikkim is working towards bringing down the travel time between Siliguri and Gangtok to around one-and-a-half hours, Roads and Bridges minister N.B. Dahal said on Friday.

Addressing a press conference in Gangtok today, his first since taking charge as the minister in 2024, Dahal said the upcoming two-laneMelli-Singtamgreenfield road projectlocated entirely within Sikkim togetherwith the four-laning of NH10 from Sevoke to Melliwillreduce travel time between Siliguri and Gangtok from around four hours to about 90 minutes.

Dahal said the 23-kmalternativeMelli-Singtamhighway, which has been designatedas National Highway-210 by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, is currently at the Detailed Project Report (DPR) stage, with the project awarded to NHIDCL.

Dahal said the State government, in coordination with National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), is undertaking temporary as well as permanent measures to strengthen road connectivity across Sikkim.

The NH10 stretch, including vulnerable sections such as the 20th Mile and S-turning area, is under NHIDCL, the minister said, adding that temporary works are being undertaken to keep the highway motorable while a permanent solution is being worked out.

“NHIDCL has been initiating temporary works to make the road motorable, while permanent solution is also being worked out. The Governor, CM and the High Court have been directly monitoring the progress. There are plans to have an all-weather motorable road from Sevoke to Gangtok and efforts are being made to cut the journey time along the stretch only to one and half hour.”

Dahalsaid theAdampool-JhakriFalls road stretch, which is in deplorable condition,has been taken up on priority. “After a detailed study and preparation of a DPR, the tender has been floated and the work order issued, with carpeting work expected to begin after the monsoon. The project is targeted for completion by March,” he said.

To improve road quality across the State, the department has identified 572 kms of roads for the mastic asphalt carpeting. A work order has been issued and the works are scheduled to commence after the monsoon.

More than Rs. 500 crore has been approved for the 572-km project, with Rs. 100 crore currently available with department to begin the work, Dahal said.

The contract provides three years for completion of the carpeting works and four years of maintenance by the contractors, he added.

The minister also referred to permanent reconstruction of bridges damaged during the 2023 glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF), saying temporary restoration had been carried out in coordination with the BRO to maintain connectivity.

Permanent bridge projects include the 144-metre Sirwani Bridge and the 126-metre Samdong Bridge. Work orders for both projects have been issued and they are expected to be completed within two years, Dahal said.

With regard to Chewa Bhanjang road project, a strategic highway linking Uttarey village in West Sikkim to the Indo-Nepal border at an altitude of about 10,500 feet, Dahal informed that more than Rs. 200 crore has been sanctioned and the project is expected to be completed within 24 to 36 months.

“There are also rural roads being developed across State under Rural Development department,” the minister said.

The minister said road infrastructure development in Sikkim involves several agencies, including the Roads and Bridges department, BRO, RDD and NHIDCL, with the State department coordinating efforts to improve connectivity across highways, rural areas and border regions.

“The department and the State government is very serious with regards to road connectivity as this not only serves as a means of transportation but also for economic stability of the State. As Sikkim is a tourism-centric State, the improvement of road is a priority so that the tourists visiting Sikkim take back a memorable experience and the tourism industry fosters,” said Dahal.

Dahal stated that the Roads and Bridges department under the State government and the leadership of the Chief Minister, has been making consistent efforts to improve and upgrade the State’s connectivity.

He called upon the “opposers,” as he described them, and “not the opposition,” pointing out that they have no representatives in the State Assembly. He urged them to properly verify their facts before misleading or misguiding the innocent citizens of the state.

“We were, are, and will always remain sincere towards the people of Sikkim and the state,” the minister added.

Under ADB funding, six road projects covering 76 km and three bridges are being taken up at an estimated cost of Rs. 1,082 crore, Roads and Bridges PCE Basant Kumar Tamang said.

Under JICA funding, one bridge and one road project are being initiated at an estimated cost of Rs. 792 crore, he said.

MLA and Roads and Bridges advisor ErungTenzing Lepcha also addressed the conference wherein he said, “Our department is very sincere and focused with regards to improvement of road connectivity across State. Those making unwarranted, baseless allegations can always visit the department and avail authentic information rather than misleading the citizen and defaming the department and the government.

The press conference also had PCE-cum-secretary A.B. Subba.