photo: NewBridgeGANGTOK, Aug 7: The Rangrang Bridge, arguably the seventh highest in Asia, was inaugurated today.
A two-lane concrete bridge has replaced the old suspension variety at Rangrang on the North Sikkim highway, 60km from here.
Situated near Mangan in North Sikkim, the bridge is 123-metre-long. Its height is 801.30 metres. The bridge contains three levels ~ high flood (714 metres), ordinary flood level (709.50 metres) and low flood level (708.50 metres). The bridge was constructed with an expenditure of over Rs 5 crore. "We want to modernise all the technical equipment in our construction and develop manpower skill," said Lt General KS Rao, PVSM, SC."We did not disturb the environment while constructing the bridge," he added.The project was a brainchild of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO). It was constructed under the BRO’s Project Dantak.
"Another two bridges ~ Rang Chang Khola at Bansoi and a similar bridge at Toong ~ would be inaugurated soon," Mr Rao, said. He added that the construction of the bridges is at the final stage."These bridges would boost the state's infrastructure," Mr Rao, said.A cultural programme was organised today to mark the inauguration of the Rangrang bridge. Students from Tibetan and Nepali communities performed dances on the occasion in presence of a large number of people.
Earlier, the Rangrang bridge was a Bailey bridge on which only one vehicle used to ply at a time.
