SILIGURI, May 17: Yet another accident, and for no fault of the driver, on National Highway 31A, in which three persons lost their lives and some are still missing not to mention the injured ones, probably makes the demand for an alternative road to Sikkim a reality cry.
The lifeline to Sikkim, the NH31A is a susceptible facility scarred with several sinking and slip zones and therefore vulnerable to landslides disrupting traffic on a regular basis and keeping the Border Roads Organisation busy maintaining round the year. That by itself is reason enough for the proposed dual facility.
Not that the authorities never thought in those lines but the proposal could never be translated into action for a number of reasons, litigation being one of those.
According to a letter from the 758 Border Roads Task Force to the Jalpaiguri MLA Mr Deba Prasad Roy on 15 March, efforts were made in the past to convert the road leading from Damdim in the Doars to Rehnok in Sikkim via Algarah and Rishi in Kalimpong sub-division.
“But the proposal could not be progressed with due to litigation by some tea plantations, non-availability of revenue land for widening and clearance from the forest department,” the BRTF commandant Mr AK Dikshit’s letter to the MLA says.
The MLA has his logic. “The Centre has decided to provide four-lane highway connectivity to every state capital in the country. The activity in this respect is afoot in every state except Sikkim. Moreover, the alternative route is a need of the hour and the recent accident proves it,” Mr Roy, said today.
According to him, a proposal to improve the NH-31A was taken by the Sikkim government in 2003, which did not materialise. The BRTF, it seems, is also eager to develop the proposed Damdim to Rhenok axis to Gangtok into a four-lane facility. “The Border Roads Oraganisation is keen to develop the axis to four-lane specifications. However, it is suggested that conversion of the existing lane to a four-lane facility should be in two phases,” the commandant’s letter states.
“The state government will have to ensure withdrawal of the litigations, arrange for land and clearance from the forest department in developing the Damdim to Rhenok proposed road and the government of Sikkim should also take a positive approach in the matter,” the Jalpaiguri MLA, said.
(Sudipta Chanda,The Statesman
Sikkim Served Fresh Daily
