Decks cleared for Sikkim to get its 2nd road link to the world, after three decades
Three decades after its merger with India, Sikkim is linked to the rest of the country with only a 41-km stretch of NH 31-A, which is just five metres wide. But this is about to change as the Centre is soon likely to approve a 17-km alternative highway for the state.
The move is long overdue, especially in view of China pumping in billions of dollars on the other side of the border on building roads, railway lines and an airport in Tibet.
Sikkim Government officials said the project would be totally funded by the Centre, and a request has already been sent to the Ministry of Shipping, Road Transport & Highways. Last month, the Sikkim, Roads & Bridges Department invited Expressions of Interest (EoI) for preparation of a Detailed Project Report.
The existing NH 31-A stretches from Siliguri in West Bengal to Gangtok, entering Sikkim at Rangpo. The proposed 17-km stretch will provide an alternative route from Rangpo to Melli, on the other side of the River Teeta.
At present, Melli and Rangpo are connected by a single-lane state road, which dates back to before Sikkim merged with India and is not in line with road specifications.
A branch of NH 31-A from Melli connects western Sikkim. If this is linked to Rangpo, an alternate route into the hilly state will be made possible.
According to Planning Commission data, Sikkim has an abysmal road density of 258 per 1,000 square kms of area. The road length per 100 square kms of area is 28.45 km, and 336.5 kms per one lakh population - one of the lowest in the country as per road statistics compiled by the Ministry of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways. There is no rail corridor.
"The 17-km alternative highway could transform Sikkim in a big way. In the absence of any rail corridor, the state is heavily dependent on NH 31-A as of now. With the Centre now looking seriously at improving road connectivity in the Northeast, we are hoping this link will come through," said Govind P Sharma, Chief Engineer-cum-Secretary, Roads & Bridges, Sikkim Government.
"We already have a couple of bids. We hope to award the contract by the month-end," said Sharma. "The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Centre are finalising funding details for this project, which is likely to be part of the Special Accelerated Road Development Programme (SARDP) for the Northeast. While ADB is keen on an intermediate lane highway, we have requested that it be made two-lane keeping in mind the traffic needs for the next few years," he added.
Sharma revealed plans to extend the stretch by another 30 kms or so, right upto Gangtok. The Sikkim Government has been trying to hardsell its infrastructure wishlist to the Centre, with proposals to extend the East-West corridor that ends in Assam to Gangtok, upgrade a 143-km link from Siliguri to Gangtok via Nathu La, a national highway to Nathu La, and a four-lane expressway from Sevoke to Gangtok.
The move is long overdue, especially in view of China pumping in billions of dollars on the other side of the border on building roads, railway lines and an airport in Tibet.
Sikkim Government officials said the project would be totally funded by the Centre, and a request has already been sent to the Ministry of Shipping, Road Transport & Highways. Last month, the Sikkim, Roads & Bridges Department invited Expressions of Interest (EoI) for preparation of a Detailed Project Report.
The existing NH 31-A stretches from Siliguri in West Bengal to Gangtok, entering Sikkim at Rangpo. The proposed 17-km stretch will provide an alternative route from Rangpo to Melli, on the other side of the River Teeta.
At present, Melli and Rangpo are connected by a single-lane state road, which dates back to before Sikkim merged with India and is not in line with road specifications.
A branch of NH 31-A from Melli connects western Sikkim. If this is linked to Rangpo, an alternate route into the hilly state will be made possible.
According to Planning Commission data, Sikkim has an abysmal road density of 258 per 1,000 square kms of area. The road length per 100 square kms of area is 28.45 km, and 336.5 kms per one lakh population - one of the lowest in the country as per road statistics compiled by the Ministry of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways. There is no rail corridor.
"The 17-km alternative highway could transform Sikkim in a big way. In the absence of any rail corridor, the state is heavily dependent on NH 31-A as of now. With the Centre now looking seriously at improving road connectivity in the Northeast, we are hoping this link will come through," said Govind P Sharma, Chief Engineer-cum-Secretary, Roads & Bridges, Sikkim Government.
"We already have a couple of bids. We hope to award the contract by the month-end," said Sharma. "The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Centre are finalising funding details for this project, which is likely to be part of the Special Accelerated Road Development Programme (SARDP) for the Northeast. While ADB is keen on an intermediate lane highway, we have requested that it be made two-lane keeping in mind the traffic needs for the next few years," he added.
Sharma revealed plans to extend the stretch by another 30 kms or so, right upto Gangtok. The Sikkim Government has been trying to hardsell its infrastructure wishlist to the Centre, with proposals to extend the East-West corridor that ends in Assam to Gangtok, upgrade a 143-km link from Siliguri to Gangtok via Nathu La, a national highway to Nathu La, and a four-lane expressway from Sevoke to Gangtok.
