The Bengal government has in principle agreed to the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA)’s proposal to construct alternative roads from Darjeeling to Teesta Bazar and from Bungkulung to Kurseong.

The two alternative roads are proposed largely to ease traffic congestion while travelling to Darjeeling.

“The GTA had submitted a proposal to the state government for the construction of three roads to ease traffic congestion in the hills. Of the three roads, the government has agreed in principle to construct two roads,” GTA chief executive Anit Thapa told The Telegraph.

The 35km-long alternative route from Darjeeling town will start at Lebong and end at Teesta Bazar. Lebong is at the opposite end of Jorebunglow where vehicles coming from Gangtok, Kalimpong, Siliguri and Mirik converge creating huge traffic snarls on a stretch of 8km.

During peak tourism season, it takes hours to cover the 8km stretch and the entire traffic in Darjeeling town also gets affected.

“This alternative route from Lebong would ensure that vehicles to Kalimpong and Gangtok can exit Darjeeling from the other end of town. In fact, from Teesta Bazar, one can also go to the Dooars and Siliguri,” said a GTA source.

The in-principle nod to the new road was granted on May 24, said the source.

The other road agreed on by the government is from Bungkulung to Kurseong. “This road will be 14km long and will ease travel from Mirik to Kurseong,” said a source.

Sources said the new road would touch the Pankhabari road at Ambootia Phatak, just a few kilometres below Kurseong town.

The third proposal made by the GTA was to construct a road from Bungkulung in the Mirik subdivision to Sukhiapokhri touching Nagri and Dhajea but it was not approved by the government immediately.

Sources said on June 3, the GTA also wrote to the secretary of the public works department (PWD) to take over the construction of a circular road from Lebong to 3rd Mile via Pandam tea garden.

The GTA has taken up the construction of the 13km stretch from Lebong to 3rd Mile via Pandam and Rangaroon tea gardens. “The GTA has requested the government to take up the balance work,” said a GTA source.

This route would also provide an alternative route to people travelling to Kalimpong, Gangtok, Takdah, Lopchu and Peshok among other places.