Steps to improve national highway in Sikkim


New Delhi, Nov 26 (PTI) The Centre has taken a number of steps to improve the national highway in Sikkim and has released Rs 700 crore for the purpose under its Special Accelerated Road Development Programme for the North East.

Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways R P N Singh stated this in Rajya Sabha today.

He was intervening in a discussion on a Private Member's resolution on development of Sikkim brought by O T Lepcha (Sikkim Democratic Front).

The minister said 69 of the 77 critical locations on the 80 km-long NH-31A stretch, which links Sikkim with the mainland, has been improved.

He said once the Border Road Organisation (BRO) okays the remaining eight stretches, the ministry will act.

He also said the government has given in-principle approval to an alternative 242 km-long highway to be constructed between Chalsa and Rani Paul.