Landmark Infrastructure Boost: Fresh Tender Floated for 6-Lane Alternative to Historic Coronation Bridge Over Teesta River

KalimNews, August 14, 2026, Kalimpong: In a decisive breakthrough for North Bengal’s regional connectivity, a fresh tender has officially been invited for the construction of a new major bridge and its approach roads across the Teesta River at Sevoke in Darjeeling district. The NHAI has officially floated a mega ₹844.01-crore tender for the construction of the new bridge..Announcing the landmark step on Friday, Member of Parliament for Darjeeling and BJP National Spokesperson Raju Bista shared that the strategic project will commence near kilometer 591.310 on National Highway 10 (formerly NH-31). The mega-infrastructure project is slated for execution under the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) mode within the central government’s National Highways (Original) [NH(O)] framework.

This fresh bidding process follows the earlier tender floated in January 2026, which was subsequently cancelled and revised to accommodate crucial capacity expansions. In an upgraded blueprint, the proposed alternative has been elevated from its earlier four-lane layout to a full-fledged six-lane highway corridor. This expansion aligns directly with recommendations finalized in March 2026 by the Standing Committee on Finance under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), which recognized that the corridor's strategic geopolitical importance and escalating traffic volumes necessitated a high-capacity, future-ready six-lane transit link.

The realization of a modern, resilient alternative to the British-era Coronation Bridge addresses an urgent, long-standing demand raised by communities spanning the Darjeeling hills, the Siliguri Terai, and the Dooars plains. Expressing profound satisfaction over the imminent commencement of on-ground works, the parliamentarian extended heartfelt appreciation on behalf of regional residents to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, alongside the executive leadership and engineering teams of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for according paramount priority to North Bengal's highway infrastructure.

The project marks an essential transition away from the colonial-era Coronation Bridge, locally known as Baghpool. Named to commemorate the coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, its foundation stone was laid in 1937 by the then Governor of Bengal, Sir John Anderson, before opening to traffic in 1941. Designed under British Executive Engineer John Chambers and built using a fixed reinforced-concrete arch anchored into rocky cliffs, it served as an engineering marvel of its era. Over the decades, however, escalating heavy traffic and natural shocks—most notably the 6.9-magnitude Sikkim earthquake in 2011 and subsequent structural inspections revealing severe cracks along its arch—necessitated repeated repairs, load restrictions, and temporary maintenance by public works authorities.

Expressing gratitude to the citizens across the region, Bista commended their steadfast patience, enduring faith, and continuous encouragement throughout the advocacy process. He emphasized that the unwavering trust of the public reinforces his resolve to champion robust connectivity and transformative socio-economic progress, reaffirming his dedication to turning the shared dreams and developmental aspirations of the people into tangible reality.