North Bengal landslides: Centre sanctions Rs 22 crore to repair hill highway

NH110 is the principal road that connects Siliguri with Kurseong and Darjeeling

TT, Siliguri, 11.07.24 : Darjeeling MP Raju Bista said on Tuesday that the Centre had sanctioned ₹22 crore to repair NH110 (called NH55 earlier), a portion of which has been closed for four-five days because of landslides and a cave-in.

NH110 is the principal road that connects Siliguri with Kurseong and Darjeeling.

The cave-in on NH110 occurred at Paglajhora, which is around 30km from here.

“Out of the total allocation of ₹22 crore, ₹4 crore has been earmarked for Paglajhora. I have asked the NH division of the state PWD (public works department) to approve fast the proposed alternative route, for which ₹71 lakh is required to restore traffic through Paglajhora,” said the MP.

Bista also said he would provide financial support to the families at Mahanadi whose houses had been damaged in a landslide.

With a halt in traffic along a stretch of NH110, vehicles are taking alternative routes to reach Darjeeling from Siliguri.

Apart from NH110, landslides have snapped NH10 at Tindharia and Mahanadi. The landslides have made the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) authorities suspend regular services between Darjeeling and New Jalpaiguri till July 20.

Considered the lifeline of Sikkim and the Kalimpong district, NH10 has been closed for around 10 days. On Wednesday, traffic on NH 717A was suspended following a landslide at Pedong in Kalimpong district.

“Even though the tracks have not been affected by the landslides so far, the decision has been made for the safety of passengers. The regular joy ride between Darjeeling and Ghoom is still on. Besides, a new passenger service has been introduced between Kursoeng and Darjeeling for daily commuters,” said a DHR official.

The Indian Railway Construction International Limited (IRCON International) and the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) have been asked by the Centre to join the Bengal PWD in restoring NH10.

While IRCON International is engaged in the Sikkim railway project, NHPC has several hydel projects on the Teesta that flows parallel to NH10.

“On July 8, a meeting was held by the Union ministry of road transport and highway in Delhi on NH10 restoration. At the meeting, the two central government undertakings have been asked to join the restoration work,” said a source.

Courtesy & source- The Telegraph

https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/north-bengal-landslides-centre-sanctions-rs-22-crore-to-repair-hill-highway/cid/2032940