Gangtok, July 3: Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang met West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari in Kolkata on July 3 to discuss a range of issues aimed at enhancing inter-state connectivity, improving healthcare support and advancing public welfare initiatives, according to an official statement.
During the meeting, Tamang congratulated Adhikari on assuming office and extended his best wishes for a successful tenure. The two leaders also reviewed several long-pending matters of mutual importance affecting both states.
One of the major decisions taken during the discussions was the approval for setting up Suswastha Bhawan Sikkim at the SNT Complex in Siliguri. The proposed facility will offer accommodation and essential assistance to patients from Sikkim and their attendants travelling to Siliguri for medical treatment. The West Bengal government has directed the concerned department to complete the formalities required for granting permission for the project.
The meeting also resulted in an agreement to double the countersignature permit quota for Sikkim-registered taxis operating in West Bengal. The quota will be increased from 3,000 to 6,000, a move expected to benefit taxi operators while improving passenger transport and connectivity between Sikkim and Siliguri.
The two chief ministers further reviewed the aftermath of the 2023 South Lhonak Lake glacial lake outburst flood, which deposited large quantities of sediment in the Teesta River and caused extensive damage to National Highway-10, the principal road link connecting Sikkim with the rest of India.
According to the statement, both governments agreed to jointly pursue scientific sediment management through dredging of the Teesta River to restore and safeguard the vital highway and improve long-term connectivity between the two neighbouring states.
