Raju Bista asks Nitin Gadkari to ensure opening of NH10

Due to the restrictions on the entry of goods vehicles, perishables worth thousands of crores of rupees had gone bad on transit, and prices of essential commodities had once again increased in the hills. 

YOWAN MOTHAY, EOI, KALIMPONG, MARCH 27, 2024 : BJP M.P. of Darjeeling Raju Bista has written to Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, requesting for his urgent intervention to ensure the opening of National Highway - 10.Bista said on Wednesday he had informed the Minister that a recent rain caused a landslide in the Likhuveer area along NH-10 under the Kalimpong District on March 21. 

Following this, the Kalimpong District Administration had shut down NH-10 for vehicular traffic. Even then, no attempts were being made to arrest the landslide from source. This was causing massive problems for daily commuters, especially students, tourists and medical patients. 

Due to the restrictions on the entry of goods vehicles, perishables worth thousands of crores of rupees had gone bad on transit, and prices of essential commodities had once again increased in the hills. 

Since NH 10 was a critical road which connected the border areas of Kalimpong, Darjeeling, Dooars and Sikkim with the rest of India, shutting down of this road could pose grave national security riskas well. 

Bista pointed out that in October2023, flood on river Teesta had caused the shutting down of N.H. 10 for over four months. 

“This had majorly disturbed transport in our region, and caused massive in convenience to the people from our region, especially the drivers, who had to risk their lives while driving on other more dangerous alternative routes,” he said..

”It is for these reasons that I had earlier requested that the portion of N.H.10, still under the control of the National Highway Division of the West Bengal PWD be taken over by the National Highway Authority of India or the National Highway and Infrastructure Development Corporation to ensure timely repair and development of this critical road.” 

Bista requested the Kalimpong district administration to call for a meeting of all stake-holders, so that all could contribute towards resolving this issue permanently. 

'I assure the people that after NHIDCL takes over NH-10, there will be no delay in repair, maintenance and upgradation  of  this strategic highway,’ Bista said.