Friday, April 15, 2011

Sikkim & Bengal to be linked via flyover by BRO

GANGTOK: The Border Roads Organization (BRO) is considering the construction of a 1-km flyover from Rangpo Mining to the Rangpo border at Mansoong, that connects West Bengal, at a cost of Rs100 crore.

Major landslides are a common occurrence on the 100-km National Highway 31 A that links Siliguri with Gangtok. Restoration of traffic takes two to 10 days.

The BRO technician has earmarked 75 spots, 28 of which lie on on Sikkim`s 40 km stretch. The remaining 47 spots lie on the West Bengal`s 60-km stretch from Sevoke Coronation Bridge to Ranipool, near Gangtok. A superintendent of BRO 764 Task force commandant based at Kalimpong, Manav Prasad, has informed.
The BRO is also constructing another flyover and one-km tunnel from Kumrek to Mining ground at a cost of Rs 30 crore. Another 200-mt tunnel will also replace the existing tunnel at Chisopani ahead of Singtam at a cost of Rs 8 crore.
Referring to the incomplete repairing and double-lane road extending work, Prasad has laid the onus on Darjeeling bandhs called in January and February. Moreover, they are yet to receive clearance from the departments concerned in Sevoke to Teesta, where some stretches passed through the Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary and Baikuntapur forest.

Prasad adds, "We hope to complete the restoration works of main thoroughfare of only connecting roads with mainline via Siliguri by May. Over 500 labourers have been equipped with seven large excavators and other machines for road widening and landslide spots mitigation."

No comments: