SIKKIM SUFFERS ANOTHER SET BACK.Gangtok,Sept14: Even though the rain seems to have taken a respite,the spate of bad news over the NH-31A highway continued unabated. A day of hope fuelled by assurance from Project Dantak is followed almost unfailingly by news of more damages on the same old trouble spots on the highway.
Traffic on the National Highway was affected again at two places, both historically sinking zones, At 27th Mile,above the NHPC hydel project site at Kalijhora near Rambhi in West Bengal which has now become a migraine for DANTAK as well as the public of Sikkim , a Sikkim bound tanker is informed to have sunk along with the road portion. The tanker reports indicated it belongs to SNT,the road collapse which took place some time last night has again resulted in keeping this stretch of the highway out of bounds for the traffic movement for entire day .All vehicles bound to Sikkim were forced to take detour Via Darjeeling to reach their destinations in Sikkim. It is expected that sinking stretch will be made motor able by Saturday evening.
Project Dantak Superintendent Engineer Mr. Dikshit informs that a meeting had been convened by Commissioner Jalpaiguri a couple of days ago where it was decided that the 27th Mile stretch will be tackled solely by the NHPC engineers and not any other agency.
The decision was taken as it was opined that the area’s stability has been compromised not by landslides or natural events but due to Dam Construction work below the highway and that the base of the hill from the water level up has become totally untenable. NHPC has been asked to stop all construction activities if it wants Dantak to chip in with assistance from it for the time being.
If that wasnot enough the bailey bridge over lepcha jhora near Chitrey is also informed to be sinking and is perceptibly tilting towards valley side. The threat is evident for for few days now but no efforts to limit the loads of vehicle passing through it has been effected by concerned authorities till yesterday but today they have restricted movement of light vehicles only .Supplies brought into heavy trucks to Sikkim has to be transshipped through smaller vehicles.
It is informed that Dantak will take up repairs on Saturday but it will be few days before the bridge is restored to its original status.
Meanwhile, the bailey bridge at Tar Jhora ,as informed , is in its place but leftover work to be completed by this weekend.
There are also reports few tankers of LPG and Petrol/Diesel bound for Sikkim are being held at Raiganj in North Bengal due to collapse of a bridge there.However,DC East has contacted his counterparts to release tankers on priority basis due to shortage of LPG etc. in Sikkim.
Traffic on the National Highway was affected again at two places, both historically sinking zones, At 27th Mile,above the NHPC hydel project site at Kalijhora near Rambhi in West Bengal which has now become a migraine for DANTAK as well as the public of Sikkim , a Sikkim bound tanker is informed to have sunk along with the road portion. The tanker reports indicated it belongs to SNT,the road collapse which took place some time last night has again resulted in keeping this stretch of the highway out of bounds for the traffic movement for entire day .All vehicles bound to Sikkim were forced to take detour Via Darjeeling to reach their destinations in Sikkim. It is expected that sinking stretch will be made motor able by Saturday evening.
Project Dantak Superintendent Engineer Mr. Dikshit informs that a meeting had been convened by Commissioner Jalpaiguri a couple of days ago where it was decided that the 27th Mile stretch will be tackled solely by the NHPC engineers and not any other agency.
The decision was taken as it was opined that the area’s stability has been compromised not by landslides or natural events but due to Dam Construction work below the highway and that the base of the hill from the water level up has become totally untenable. NHPC has been asked to stop all construction activities if it wants Dantak to chip in with assistance from it for the time being.
If that wasnot enough the bailey bridge over lepcha jhora near Chitrey is also informed to be sinking and is perceptibly tilting towards valley side. The threat is evident for for few days now but no efforts to limit the loads of vehicle passing through it has been effected by concerned authorities till yesterday but today they have restricted movement of light vehicles only .Supplies brought into heavy trucks to Sikkim has to be transshipped through smaller vehicles.
It is informed that Dantak will take up repairs on Saturday but it will be few days before the bridge is restored to its original status.
Meanwhile, the bailey bridge at Tar Jhora ,as informed , is in its place but leftover work to be completed by this weekend.
There are also reports few tankers of LPG and Petrol/Diesel bound for Sikkim are being held at Raiganj in North Bengal due to collapse of a bridge there.However,DC East has contacted his counterparts to release tankers on priority basis due to shortage of LPG etc. in Sikkim.
