West Bengal and Sikkim’s sole connector, National Highway 10 (NH-10), has been closed once again for repairs, following a fresh order issued by the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL).
Effective from October 13 to 16, vehicle movement is restricted along the Sevoke (West Bengal)–Rangpo (Sikkim) stretch.
Officials reported that the road at the 38 km mark (on the Sevoke side) had dropped almost 2 meters, especially the 27th and 29th mile portions. Plus, during the festival of Dasain, the jamming of thousands of vehicles made the situation worse.
Alternative route, same struggle
Now, an alternate route through Munsung via Lava-Gorubathan towards the Coronation Bridge has become the only connector between Siliguri and the hills.
Officials blame much of NH-10’s instability on the 2023 glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) that hit the Teesta basin.
Livelihoods hit, locals urge permanent fix
Prakash Tamang, a contractor with NHIDCL, told EastMojo, “We tried multiple times to repair the stretch, but it didn’t hold. Earlier, we were instructed to start cutting work, but permission was delayed. Now that approval has finally been granted, the work will be completed within three to four days.”
“Without 100% protection near the river, the same issue will reoccur. Proper retention and reinforcement are critical to ensuring long-term stability.”
Local businesses say repeated closures have caused heavy losses. Arun Kumar, who runs a restaurant near the damaged stretch, told EastMojo, “Business has been badly affected. This is usually our main season from October to January, but it’s completely down. Since 2023, we’ve faced ongoing losses because of roadblocks and collapses.”
