Nathu La-Sevoke double laning project

Gangtok, Jun (UNI) Six tunnels and five major bridges will be constructed in the double laning project of the 156 kms road stretch from Sevoke in Siliguri to Nathu La border in Sikkim for the creation of all weather roads at the cost of around Rs 1880 crores.

Border Road Organization (BRO) will undertake the double laning project from Gangtok to Nathu La (64 kms) while National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) will be overseeing the road works from Sevoke to Gangtok (92 kms). The estimated costs for the Gangtok-Nathu La component is Rs 780 crores and is scheduled to be completed by March 2009.

Similarly the Gangtok-Sevoke road upgradation is proposed to be completed by March 2011 and is expected to cost around Rs.1100 crores, said NHAI sources. The completion date is significant as the present Nathu La border trade is expected to be declared as open trade in 2011.

Since its resumption on July 2006, trading along the Silk Route is restricted to Sikkim in the Indian side and Tibet Autonomous Region in the Chinese side for a period of five years ie 2011. Once trade becomes full-fledged, the volume of business and traffic movement along the mountainous corridor and Siliguri is expected to rise up considerably.

According to Sikkim government committee's report, hundreds of heavy vehicles will be plying between Nathu La-Gangtok-Siliguri areas along the Nathu La road and National Highway, 31 per day shooting the trading figures upto Rs 300 crores per annum.

As such, upgradation responsibility of the present roads to all weather standards has been given to BRO and NHAI to address the connectivity issues for meeting the rise in border trade.

According to NHAI officials, the Detailed Project Report (DPR) is almost ready and will be placed before Union Ministry of Surface Transport and National Planning Commission for clearance. After getting the clearance, NHAI will be floating global tender for the Gangtok-Sevoke project that will be a Built On Transfer (BOT) project.

''We have also started process for land acquisitions in Sikkim and applied to West Bengal government for transfer of land required for road upgradation,'' said Mr P Mishra, technical officer, NHAI.

The 3 tunnels measuring to 3 kms will be built at Likubir and Berik in West Bengal territory and Singtam in Sikkim side along NH 31 A. A bridge will also be constructed near Rangpo, the gateway of Sikkim for bypassing Rangpo bazaar. Another bridge will also be constructed at 9th Mile around 20 kms away from Gangtok as the area is a sinking area and landslide prone.

BRO will be constructing three tunnels and three major bridges along the Gangtok-Nathu La corridor.

NHAI expressed confidence that the project which carries significance for Sikkim and West Bengal will proceed in a smooth manner and be completed once it starts from March 2008.

UNI