GANGTOK, Sept 20: Sikkim is working to reduce travel time between Siliguri and Gangtok from around four hours to about 90 minutes through new and upgraded road infrastructure, Roads and Bridges Minister N.B. Dahal said on Friday.
Addressing a press conference in Gangtok, Dahal said the proposed two-lane Melli-Singtam greenfield road, along with the four-laning of NH10 between Sevoke and Melli, would help achieve the target.
The 23-km Melli-Singtam highway, designated National Highway-210 by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, is currently at the Detailed Project Report (DPR) stage. The project has been awarded to the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL).
Dahal said the state government was coordinating with NHIDCL, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to undertake temporary and permanent measures to strengthen road connectivity across Sikkim.
He said vulnerable sections of NH10, including the 20th Mile and S-turning area, were being maintained through temporary works to keep the highway motorable while permanent solutions were being developed. He added that the Governor, Chief Minister and High Court were monitoring the progress.
Dahal said the Adam Pool-Jhakri Falls road stretch had also been taken up on priority. After a detailed study and DPR preparation, the tender had been floated and the work order issued, with carpeting expected to begin after the monsoon and completion targeted by March.
The department has identified 572 km of roads for mastic asphalt carpeting. A work order has been issued, with work scheduled to begin after the monsoon. More than Rs 500 crore has been approved for the project, of which Rs 100 crore is currently available. Contractors will have three years to complete the work and four years for maintenance.
Dahal also said permanent reconstruction of bridges damaged in the 2023 glacial lake outburst flood was underway. The 144-metre Sirwani Bridge and 126-metre Samdong Bridge have received work orders and are expected to be completed within two years.
For the Chewa Bhanjang strategic highway linking Uttarey in West Sikkim with the Indo-Nepal border at an altitude of around 10,500 feet, more than Rs 200 crore has been sanctioned. The project is expected to be completed within 24 to 36 months.
Dahal said road development across the state involved the Roads and Bridges Department, BRO, Rural Development Department and NHIDCL, with the state government coordinating efforts across highways, rural areas and border regions.
