The Hindu Business Line : Sikkim keen on quality in Nathu La road project

The Sikkim Chief Secretary, Mr N.D. Chingapa, has urged the Project Swastik of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) to ensure that the ‘quality and milestones’ are met and expressed his satisfaction over the road widening process along the Jawaharlal Nehru Marg connecting Gangtok with Nathu La border.

The Sikkim Government is very serious about the quality and milestones so we can avoid cost escalation and inconvenience to the general public and tourists, said the Chief Secretary during a one-day stock-taking tour of the road building processes along the Jawaharlal Nehru Marg.

Speaking to media at the Nathu La border, Mr Chingapa said that the purpose of his visit was to know about the progress of the Nathu La road double laning project by the BRO.

Progress

The double laning project of 64 km Nathu La road from Gangtok to the border is scheduled to be completed by March and has a budget provision of Rs 780 crore. The project had started in 2008 and has been planned in four phases.

During the tour, the Chief Secretary was accompanied by the heads of the State forest, roads and bridges, land revenue, mines and geology, commerce and industries, information and public relations departments and BRO officials in-charge of the project.

During spot meetings at Mile 2 and Mile 8, the Chief Secretary was briefed about the progress of the project by the BRO officials led by 758 BRTF Commandant Ravi Chugh.

Tackling bottlenecks

Here Mr Chingapa expressed it to the BRO officials that the State government is ready to take up any bottlenecks affecting the project.

“If any proposal is being held in the Ministries, please get in touch with us and the State Government will take it up”, said Mr Chingapa.

The Chief Secretary also made it mandatory to the BRO to take the State mines and geology department into confidence and get its clearance before taking up any new projects in Sikkim.

He also stressed the proper dumping yards for the excavated mud, proper drainage systems and cleanliness of the wetlands of Sikkim are maintained by the BRO during the road construction process.

Drain system

Drains should be the number one priority during road constructions, said Mr Chingapa.

He also pointed out to the BRO the need for more crash barriers and sign-posts along the accident-prone areas along the national highway and the State roads.

He also said that the BRO can get in touch with the State Government for removal of billboards along the roads if it feels they are distracting the drivers.

Use of explosives

The Chief Secretary further expressed his concerns about the use of explosives to blast the rocks and use of heavy bulldozers during road construction process. He urged the BRO to minimise use of blasting and heavy bulldozers for protecting the fragile Sikkim.

Old unused bridges

He also called for removal of the old unused bridges along the North Sikkim highway as such bridges can be dangerous to the local public.

In this issue, the BRO said that there are nine such unused bridges along the North Sikkim highway and all will be removed in a phased manner.

During his road trip from Gangtok to Nathu La border, the Chief Secretary also inspected the ongoing construction works of the infrastructure at Sherathang Trade Mart.

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