Kalimpong, Feb. 11: The proposal to double-lane NH31A from Sevoke to Gangtok is being reconsidered with a special task force of the Union surface transport ministry looking at the possibility of alternative alignments between the two points. This is after the Sikkim government has raised doubts over the feasibility of double-laning the highway as the hills along this stretch are fragile.
During the last monsoon, traffic on the highway was severely disrupted following frequent landslides at various places along the route. According to sources in the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) in New Delhi and the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), the task force, headed by D. Saran, additional director general in the surface transport ministry, has suggested two different alignments.
The first one is proposed along the left bank of the Teesta river from the Teesta bridge to the Coronation Bridge, and the second one on the right bank of the river from Ranipool to the Teetsa bridge.
The search for the new alignment has no connection with the proposal to widen the Damdim-Rishi-Rhenok-Ranipool road, another link between Gangtok and Siliguri.
This road will be widened to national highway single lane specifications as per the requirements of the troops guarding the Sikkim border, said a BRO source.
The original plan was to double-lane NH31A from Sevoke to Nathula. While the BRO has already started work on the Gangtok-Nathula stretch of the highway, it will take more time before the Sevoke-Gangtok work takes off. Notably, the NHAI is supposed to execute the double-laning work between Sevoke and Gangtok.
Environmentalists have breathed a sigh of relief over the ministry’s decision to look for alternative alignment. “It is a sound decision. The hills along the highway are fragile and any attempt to disturb them could prove very costly,” said Vikash Pradhan, an environmental activist.
Rethink on NH31A double lane project
at 11:27 PM Labels: kalimpong, kalimpong news, nh31a, sikkim news
Siliguri / Kurseong : A series of fresh landslides late last night disrupted traffic movement on NH 31A.
The highway connects Sikkim and Kalimpong with the rest of the country
The mudslips occurred at Hatisuray, Melli (50km from here) and between Likhubir and Teestabazar (40km from here). The BRO had cleared the debris at Hatisuray, 26km from here, yesterday and vehicles were allowed to pass after being stranded for two weeks. Today the road was opened after three in the afternoon.
“We cleared the debris near Hatisuray yesterday evening with the help of National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) workers. But heavy showers last night again led to the blocking of the road,” said a BRO official.
The met office at Jalpaiguri has forecast the possibility of heavy rainfall in the next 24 hours. Kalimpong and Sevoke have recorded 153.4mm and 86.5mm of rainfall respectively in the past 24 hours.
The road link from Siliguri to Kalimpong via Gorubathan and Lava is yet to be opened.
“The BRO officials have assured us that the road will be restored within the next 24 hours, if the weather permits. Restoration work is also going on in different parts of NH 31A,” said Darjeeling district magistrate Rajesh Pandey.
In Kurseong, boulders blocked NH 55 at 14th Mile around 7.30 this morning. The debris covered the entire road stopping toy train services from Siliguri to Kurseong. Heavy vehicles that mostly use NH 55 while going to Darjeeling were left stranded for nearly seven hours. Smaller cars used the alternative routes via Pankhabari and Rohini.
“The road was cleared by 2pm. However, the toy train tracks are still under the debris. We expect to remove the debris by tomorrow,” said Dibyendu Das the subdivisional officer of Kurseong.
This is the second time in less than a week that boulders came down at 14th Mile leading to closure of the road. Last time the road was closed for three hours.
Source: The Telegraph
The weather will decide how soon NH 31A can be opened to traffic, say officials of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO).
In the past five days, two landslides have hit the highway at Hatisuray, 26km from Siliguri, snapping the main road link to Kalimpong and Sikkim. The price of perishable items has already skyrocketed in both the places.
“We are trying hard to reopen the road, but heavy rainfall at Hatisuray and Sevoke yesterday put our workers at risk,” said a BRO official. He added that some loose boulders are still balanced precariously above the landslide zone and the rain and the subsequent mud-slips are causing some of them to crash down on the road.
The BRO is trying to clear the road by blasting some of the bigger boulders and removing the others with the help of bulldozers.
The Met office in Jalpaiguri forecasts heavy rain over the next 24 hours.
A number of heavy vehicles carrying perishable goods bound for Kalimpong and Sikkim are stranded on NH 31A. One of the two alternative routes passing through Malbazar, Lava, Algarah and Reshi closed down for two hours this morning after a portion of the road caved in between Ambiok and Phapadkheti following torrential rain overnight.
“We are now letting light vehicles pass in a single file. However, vehicles with over three tonnes of payload will have problem negotiating the affected stretch,” said a BRO official.
The third route through Ghum, Jorebunglow and Mongpu doubles the distance between Siliguri and Kalimpong.
With the supply lines cut, residents of Kalimpong and Sikkim are feeling the pinch. The price of tomato has gone up to anything between Rs 35-40 per kg, while onion and potato are selling for Rs 25-30 and Rs 20 respectively.
In Kalimpong, the hike in prices prompted subdivisional officer Shakeel Ahmed to hold a meeting with traders, civic officials, police and representatives of the food and supply department today. Ahmed urged the local traders’ association to ensure that prices do not shoot up.
All three petrol pumps in Kalimpong have run out of stocks, while the situation is getting desperate in Sikkim.
Source: The Telegraph
