NH 10 reopens for small vehicles and mini buses with restrictions

YOWAN MOTHAY, EOI, KALIMPONG, AUGUST 22, 2024: National Highway-10, which has remained closed since August 8, will reopen for small vehicles and mini buses from Friday morning, though with certain restrictions. The Kalimpong District Administration on Thursday issued a notification on temporary restrictions and route changes to ensure public safety and allow the repairs of the damaged sections of NH-10. These restrictions will be in effect from August 23 until further notice.

According to the notification, small vehicles and mini buses with up to 32 seats will be allowed to operate along NH-10 between Seti Jhora and Rangpo from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. However, heavy vehicles will be prohibited from traveling between Seti Jhora and Rangpo along NH-10 until further notice. Small vehicles will also be permitted to travel from Kalimpong to Darjeeling via State Highway 12. The State Highway 12 from Rabi Jhora to Teesta Bazaar will, however, remain closed for all heavy vehicles due to road subsidence in the Deogram and Krishnagram areas.

Goods vehicles, buses with more than 32 seats, and heavy vehicles up to 8 tonnes will be allowed to travel round-the-clock along the Reshi-Pedong-Algarah-Lava-Gorubathan route to Siliguri and vice versa, with specified limits. Heavy vehicles up to 8 tonnes en route to Kalimpong Town will be allowed to travel via Algarah between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. Routes from Gorubathan Pandara to Reshi and Gorubathan Pandara to Kalimpong via Lava, Algarah, and Pedong will be closed to vehicles exceeding 8 tonnes. Small vehicles traveling between Rangpo and Siliguri can also take an alternative route via Munsong, 17th Mile, Algarah, Lava, and Gorubathan. Those traveling from Kalimpong to Siliguri may also use the Relli-Samthar-Panbu route as another alternative.

The authorities have advised single-lane traffic at locations such as Selfie Dara, Bhuichaley, Birik Dara, and the 26th to 29th Mile stretch near Melli. The police will enforce necessary restrictions at Rangpo, Reshi, Melli Bazaar, Chitrey, Rabi Jhora, Teesta Bazaar, 29th Mile, and the district borders to facilitate these diversions. The police may impose additional temporary restrictions or diversions if required for public safety, based on consultations with the authorities.