The state PWD will repair NH10 and take up preventive measures to avoid traffic hold-ups along the principal highway that connects the Himalayan state of Sikkim with the rest of the country during monsoon.

Sources in the NH division of state PWD said that recently, the Union ministry of road transport and highways sanctioned a sum of Rs 4.5 crore for maintenance and preventive works along a 52km stretch of the highway from the Coronation Bridge at Sevoke to Sikkim town Rangpo at the interstate border. It is a vulnerable stretch where landslides occur regularly during monsoon, halting traffic on the highway, which is also strategically important as Sikkim sits on the India-China border.

“It is good that the funds were sanctioned ahead of monsoon. We have planned certain works to minimise the effects of landslides. Tenders for the necessary work have been floated and we expect the work to start by next month,” said an official of state PWD here on Wednesday.

Every year, residents of Sikkim and Kalimpong and even tourists have to bear the brunt of landslides and cave-ins, which mostly occur between June and September.

A number of locations including 29th Mile, Birickdara and Andherijhora, along the highway, have been identified as vulnerable spots where landslides occur every year.

“In 2021, the situation was extremely bad as 15 landslides in all occurred at 29th Mile between July and August, which completely stopped traffic along this stretch of the highway,” said a source.

Officials in the state PWD said they have recently finished the task of repairing cracks along the highway.

“The entire 52km stretch is pothole-free now. With more funds available now, we will carry out works like clearing roadside drains for free flow of water, uprooting weeds and grass from vulnerable spots and repairing and constructing guard walls in some areas of the stretch,” said an official.

Also, as the monsoon sets in, excavators will be kept ready to remove rubble, boulders and mud from the road in case of a landslide.

Those associated with the tourism industry have welcomed the initiative.

“A good number of tourists visit Darjeeling and Sikkim during monsoon. We hope the state PWD takes necessary measures to keep NH10 open in monsoon,” said Samrat Sanyal, secretary, Himalayan Hospitality and Tourism Development Network.