Traffic will be suspended for five hours along a 12km stretch of NH10 on Sunday when Bengal public works department will carry out a comprehensive repair of the principal highway that connects Sikkim and the Kalimpong district of Bengal with Siliguri.

The state PWD (roads) will remove debris which piled up at 29th Mile along the highway during landslides and repair a 1.5km stretch there.

A source in the PWD said traffic would be suspended between Rambhi and Teesta Bazaar — which are 12km apart — from 11am to 4pm on next Sunday.

“Recurring landslides during the monsoon and thereafter damaged the road at 29th Mile. We will remove the rubble and repair the highway on Sunday. That is why vehicles will be barred from NH10 between Rambhi and Teesta Bazaar for five hours,” said a source in the department.

A meeting of officials concerned was held in Kalimpong on Wednesday to discuss as to how traffic could be suspended. The Sikkim government as well as the administration of the neighbouring Darjeeling district were informed about the impending traffic ban.

“People are requested to avoid travel between Rambhi and Teesta Bazaar for five hours on Sunday. However, commuters can take the Peshok-Jorebungalow-Sukna, Algarah-Lava-Gorubathan and Kalijhora-Panbu-Yangmakum-Pala-Kalimpong routes,” said Hari Krishna Pai, the superintendent of police, Kalimpong.

“We are happy that the PWD has finally decided to address the problem at 29th Mile. Commuters are facing inconveniences because of landslides, which lead to traffic congestion,” said Debasish Maitra, president, Eastern Himalaya Travel & Tour Operators’ Association.

“Also, it is risky for vehicles to move through the stretch as debris often fall from the hillside.”