GANGTOK: Lok Sabha MP (Sikkim) Indra Hang Subba chaired a high-level review meeting with officials of the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) at its headquarters in New Delhi to discuss the current status and progress of works along NH-10 and other national highways in Sikkim.
The NHIDCL team was led by Manoj Kumar, executive director (Technical), and attended by U.J. Chamargore, director (Technical), Ankush Mehta, general manager, and Ashok Kumar Saha, regional officer (Sikkim).
Jagdeep Singh, executive director (Siliguri), joined the deliberations through video conferencing, a press release from the MP’s office on November 5 informs.
During the meeting, detailed discussions were held on the prevailing situation of NH-10, the primary lifeline connecting Sikkim with the rest of the country.
The NHIDCL officials apprised the Lok Sabha MP of the challenges posed by frequent landslides and damages to key stretches of the highway, particularly during the monsoon season. The executive director (Technical) informed that plans have been finalized to strengthen five critical sections where landslides have caused major disruptions to traffic and infrastructure stability.
Emphasizing the urgency of timely intervention, Indra Hang directed NHIDCL to expedite the repair and strengthening works and ensure that these crucial sections are restored within six months, well before the onset of the next monsoon season. He stressed the need for close coordination between NHIDCL, local administration, and other relevant agencies to avoid delays and to ensure the safety and reliability of the national highways in Sikkim.
The executive director also apprised the MP about the proposal to raise the road level near Teesta, where submergence during heavy rains has been a recurring issue, thereby improving the resilience and all-weather connectivity of this vital stretch.
Indra Hang reiterated that the NH-10 serves as the lifeline of Sikkim’s economy and connectivity, and its uninterrupted operation is of paramount importance for both the people and the strategic interests of the State. He assured full cooperation and support from his office to facilitate timely execution of the projects and urged NHIDCL to adopt innovative and sustainable engineering solutions suitable for the hilly terrain of Sikkim.
The meeting concluded with a commitment from NHIDCL to accelerate the works and provide regular updates on the progress to the MP’s office, the release informs.
- SA Report
