SIKKIM:All bridges along NS highway to be replaced with permanent structure


GANGTOK, April 24: The Border Roads Organization (BRO) will be replacing all the 35 bridges with permanent structures along the 180 kms North Sikkim highway between Gangtok in East Sikkim and Gaigong which is close to the controversial Finger Tip area, Indo-China border in North Sikkim. The bridges to be replaced also include the five bailey bridges between Singtam and Dikchu along the Singtam-Rangrang road.
The replacement of bridges along the strategic North Sikkim route is part of the ambitious project of the BRO for widening the North Sikkim highway involving a cost of Rs. 600 crores. The project undertaken by Swastik Project to strengthen the road infrastructure of this border State is expected to be completed in the next five years and is positive step towards beefing up the nation’s security.

As reported yesterday, the Project Swastik has stopped cutting formations along the North Sikkim highway for one month and stone soiled the particular areas in view of the International Rhododendron Festival slated to begin from this Sunday. The road stretch between Chungthang and Yumthang has also been resurfaced in preparations for the festival.

Meanwhile, the Project Swastik chief engineer Brig RK Patyal is set to meet West Bengal chief secretary Ashok Mohan Chakrabarti on Monday regarding the NH 31A double laning project and improvement works.

The NH 31 is about 92 kms road from Gangtok in East Sikkim to Sevoke in North Bengal.

We will be talking about the progress so far and the pending forest clearance issues faced in the West Bengal side, said Brig Patyal.

Out of the 92 kms length of the NH 31A, 51.7 kms falls on the West Bengal side.
We have two responsibilities-to maintain, improve the trouble spots and double lane the highway, said Brig Patyal.

The Project Swastik has identified 69 trouble spots along the highway - 41 in the Bengal side and 28 in the Sikkim side. In the Sikkim side, the major trouble spots are at Rangpo town and Mile 9. The major trouble spots in the Bengal side identified by the Project Swastik are at Lohapul, Rambi bazaar, Mile 27, Lukhbir, Lepcha Jhora and Melli bazaar.

An amount of Rs. 45.95 crores has been estimated to tackle the troublesome spots, it is informed.