MP Indra Hang Subba urges national highway status for key roads in West Sikkim

During a Zero Hour intervention in the Lok Sabha, Sikkim MP Indra Hang Subba made an appeal to the Union Government to expand the National Highway network in the western districts of Sikkim; Soreng and Gyalshing. He said that many people live in these districts, and better road connectivity is essential for their daily lives, for tourism, and for national security.

Raising the matter in the House, MP Subba said, “I would like to draw the attention of the government through you. There are two districts of Sikkim, Soreng and Gyalshing. On the western side, there is the Indo-Nepal border. And the entry point of Kanchenjunga National Park, the UN heritage site, is also in the Gyalshing district.”

He stressed that due to the sensitive location near an international border and the presence of a globally significant ecological site, the region deserves better infrastructure. According to him, the roads in these districts are not up to the mark and need immediate attention from the Centre.

He urged that several important state highways passing through towns and villages such as Jorethang, Dharamdin, Sombaria, Soreng, Kaluk, Dentam, and others should be upgraded to the status of National Highways. He specifically mentioned routes from Dentam to Chiwabhanjang, and from Gyalshing through Pelling, Yuksom, Tashiding to Leghship. These roads, he said, play a vital role in movement for locals and tourists, and also have strategic importance because of the proximity to the Indo-Nepal border.

MP Subba pointed out that poor road conditions in these areas have often affected transport, trade, healthcare access, and education. Tourists visiting Kanchenjunga National Park also face difficulties due to the lack of proper roads. He said that upgrading these routes would improve the economy of the region, create jobs, and make travel safer.

He said that the National Highway tag would bring in more central funds, better maintenance, and faster development. He also said that better roads would help in disaster management, especially during landslides and floods, which often block the current narrow and weak roads.

Soreng and Gyalshing districts are home to many rural communities, and people have been waiting for improved roads for years. While the state has tried to improve road conditions under its own resources, MP Subba said it is time the Union Government steps in to help these remote areas.

The MP thanked the Speaker for allowing him to raise the matter and urged the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to take serious note of the demand. He said the people of western Sikkim would greatly benefit from this step, and it would also help promote tourism and national integration.