Hectic preparations before Nathu La pass reopening on July 6

Gangtok, Jul 4 (UNI) Just two days before the historic reopening of the Nathu La pass, a dry run was conducted today at Nathu La and Sherathang trademart to ensure that the grand event takes place smoothly.

Officials of all the departments, including the army, custom, immigration, banking, telecommunications participated in the dry run.

Meanwhile, the local authorities were busy preparing for the occasion.

Big signboards have been put up by the state Commerce and Industries department about the proposed border trade at specific distances all along the 56 km-long Gangtok to Nathula Jawaharlal Nehru Road.

Authorities are working hard to regulate the traffic and solve parking problems in the high altitude area. Coloured passess have been issued for easy management and traffic regulation.

The administration has also sensitised 100 traders, who would visit Chinese trademart Renqingaag on the opening day, about various modalities needed to be followed to cross the border and other aspects of the trade.

Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Chamling and Tibet Autonomous Region Chairman C Phutsak would announce the reopening of the border for bilateral trade.

Chinese ambassador to India Sun Yuxi, TAR Vice Chairman Haopeng, General Officer Commanding 17 Mountain Division Major General K R Parnaik, ministers of the Sikkim and a host of top officials from the central and state government would participate in the function.

Nathu La pass was closed since 1962 due to Sino-Indian conflict.

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