Centre’s Decision to Take Control of NH10 Sparks Political and Administrative Controversy

KalimNews, November 7, 2024, Kalimpong  :  A political storm has erupted over the Centre’s decision to take control of the crucial 52.1 km stretch of National Highway 10 (NH10) from the West Bengal Public Works Department (PWD) for its development and upkeep. The highway, which links Sikkim with Siliguri, plays a vital role in both regional connectivity and national security. It has become a focal point of controversy after the state government’s repeated pleas for financial assistance to repair the damaged road were disregarded by the Centre.

The road is particularly significant as Sikkim shares its borders with China, Nepal, and Bhutan. The highway, often rendered impassable due to landslides and floods, serves as a lifeline for thousands of people in Sikkim, Kalimpong, Darjeeling, and Dooars, and provides critical access to the Indo-China border.

State’s Plea for Repairs Ignored

The controversy comes on the heels of multiple proposals from the state PWD, totaling over ₹400 crore, sent to the Centre between July and October 2023. These proposals aimed to repair the damaged sections of NH10, especially after heavy rainfall and flash floods ravaged the road earlier that year. Despite the critical condition of the highway, the Centre approved only ₹14.13 crore, a fraction of what was necessary for comprehensive repairs. The state PWD had submitted proposals totaling ₹418 crore to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) during this period, but the Centre’s response has been deemed inadequate. A news report published by The Telegraph on November 8, 2024, highlighted this ongoing controversy.

In light of continued neglect, the Centre has now decided to take control of the stretch from Sevoke to Rangpo without consulting the state government or approving the necessary funds for urgent repairs. This move has raised questions about the government’s commitment to maintaining this vital infrastructure.

A Vital Lifeline with Strategic Significance

NH10, formerly known as NH31A, is not just any road—it holds immense strategic importance. It connects the hills of Sikkim to the rest of India, providing access to the Indo-China border. The road has long been unstable, with frequent landslides and erosion, particularly during the monsoon season. Following the devastation caused by floods in June 2023, the state PWD submitted several proposals requesting funding for urgent repairs. The Telegraph reported that documents in its possession show that between July and October, the state submitted proposals worth ₹418 crore for restoration work. However, despite the severity of the damage, the Centre approved only ₹14.13 crore—far below what was required for proper restoration.

A senior official from Nabanna, West Bengal’s secretariat, expressed frustration with the Centre’s response: “The Centre’s decision to take over the maintenance while withholding necessary funds sends a clear message that they believe the state PWD is incapable of handling the situation. This decision has embarrassed the department, especially considering the efforts they have made under difficult circumstances.”

Historical Context: The Road’s Handover from BRO to PWD

The situation surrounding NH10’s maintenance goes back several years. The road was originally managed by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), a central agency, due to its strategic importance. However, after public complaints regarding the condition of the road, responsibility for maintaining the highway was handed over to the West Bengal PWD on June 7, 2016. Prior to this, the BRO had maintained the road for 47 years.

In 2015, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) decided to transfer responsibility for NH10 to the respective state governments. At that time, the Sikkim government had expressed a preference for the road to remain under the management of a central agency like the BRO, citing the road’s strategic importance and the frequent disruptions caused by landslides.

The Sikkim Government’s Request for Central Agency Control

In recent months, the Sikkim government has reiterated its stance that NH10 should be entrusted to a central agency, given its strategic importance to India’s defense and security. In a letter to the Prime Minister’s office, the Sikkim government requested that the highway be managed by a central agency such as the BRO or the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL), rather than by the state PWD, which lacks the necessary resources and expertise to manage the road.

“We believe that the road, being critical to India’s defense, should be under the jurisdiction of a central agency,” said a Sikkim PWD official. “These agencies are better equipped to handle the frequent landslides and other natural challenges posed by this region.”

Dorjee Tshering Lepcha’s Letter and the Centre’s Response

On this matter, Dorjee Tshering Lepcha, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) from Sikkim, also raised concerns in Parliament. On July 31, 2024, Lepcha asked the Union Minister about the measures being taken by the Centre to address the frequent blockages of NH10 and to ensure its smooth functioning during the monsoon.

In his reply, Minister Nitin Gadkari acknowledged that the Sevoke-Rangpo stretch (52 km) of NH10 is prone to frequent disruptions due to landslides and valley-side subsidence during the monsoons, particularly after the Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) on October 4, 2023.

“To mitigate the problems of road blockage, slope protection and landslide mitigation works have been sanctioned for NH10, amounting to ₹394 crore for 4 works covering 19 locations in the financial year 2023-24 and ₹125 crore for 2 works covering 16 locations in the financial year 2024-25. Of these 6 sanctioned works, one work with a sanctioned cost of ₹68.49 crore has been awarded, and the rest are in the bidding stage,” Gadkari stated.

He also mentioned that bids had been invited for the appointment of a Project Management Consultancy for preparing a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for works and upgradation in the Sevoke and Rangpo sections of NH10, including measures for a permanent solution.

Lepcha also wrote a letter to the Prime Minister’s office urging the Centre to hand over the road’s management to a central agency. However, despite this request, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) indicated it had no immediate plans to transfer the stretch of NH10 in West Bengal to NHIDCL.

In a response dated August 7, 2024 Minister Gadkari informed Lepcha that the Sevoke to Rangpo section of NH10, located in West Bengal, remained under the management of the state government for development and maintenance. The response, which addressed four questions, stated: “At present, Sevoke to Rangpo Section of NH10 in the state of West Bengal is entrusted to the state government of Bengal for development and maintenance.” However, the reply did not specify whether the stretch would be transferred or the reasons behind it.

This sparked widespread speculation about the Centre’s plans for the road.

Sudden Decision: NH10 Transferred to NHIDCL

However, on October 29, 2024, the Gazette of India officially announced that the road would be handed over to NHIDCL, a central agency. This sudden move has raised questions about the Centre’s intentions and its commitment to maintaining the road’s strategic and infrastructural significance.

Limited Repairs, Major Challenges

The state PWD, despite operating under significant resource constraints, managed to make temporary repairs to allow light passenger vehicles to pass. However, the situation remains dire. According to sources, the highway has been unstable for years, with landslides and erosion frequently disrupting traffic, especially during the monsoon season. Even after the Centre allocated ₹21 crore for repairs following the flash floods in October 2023, the road deteriorated rapidly due to continued erosion and heavy rainfall.

“While we did receive some funds after the October floods, the lack of additional support for repairs has left us in a difficult position,” said a PWD official. “We’ve been forced to make temporary fixes with minimal resources, but without the necessary funding, the road remains unsuitable for heavy vehicles, severely disrupting local traffic and commerce.”

The state PWD also sent proposals amounting to ₹184.77 crore for repairs at 11 locations along the highway in August 2024, but these were rejected. Similarly, a proposal worth ₹121.85 crore submitted in October 2024, aimed at preventing further damage during the upcoming monsoon, was also left unapproved.

Political Tug-of-War Over NH10

The situation has become increasingly political. BJP MP Raju Bista from Darjeeling has been vocal in criticizing the West Bengal government’s handling of the highway. On social media, Bista wrote: “I have long known that the WB PWD lacks the expertise and resources to maintain this critical highway. The state should have handed over NH10 to NHIDCL to ensure better road quality for our region.”

Bista’s comments have been met with strong opposition from the state government. A senior minister in the Mamata Banerjee-led government accused the Centre of intentionally withholding funds and undermining Bengal’s infrastructure. “The BJP is trying to portray this as a failure of the state government. The truth is, the Centre has intentionally deprived Bengal of the funds it needs. This entire move is politically motivated,” the minister said.

Questions of Fairness and Accountability

Critics argue that the state PWD was not given a fair chance to prove its ability to maintain and repair NH10. “If the state failed to deliver after receiving the necessary funds, the Centre could have taken over the road,” said a senior official. “But taking over the road without giving the department a chance to succeed is unfair and demoralizing for the engineers involved.”

As the region braces for the next monsoon season, the fate of NH10 remains uncertain. The political and administrative battle over the highway is far from over, and the outcome of the Centre’s decision to take control of the road will have lasting implications for the region’s infrastructure and security.