Raju Bista reviews highway problems, pushes for quick action on NH-10 repairs
For the long term, the consultants suggested a completely new alignment for NH-10, along with extensive tunneling projects to avoid constant landslide disruptions.
LOCAL
Darjeeling MP Raju Bista on September 4 held a detailed review meeting with senior officials of the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) to discuss the worsening condition of the National Highway 10 (NH-10). The highway, which connects the region with the rest of the country, has been facing serious problems due to landslides, road erosion, and frequent blockages during the monsoon.
The NHIDCL team is on a visit to the region to conduct a full survey of NH-10 and also inspect NH-717A, where construction work is underway. The officials will prepare a report and suggest the best solutions to deal with the recurring problems that cause major trouble for commuters and local residents.
Bista said that on August 20 he had personally presented his NH-10 field visit report to Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari. He expressed his gratitude to the Minister for quickly sending a high-level team to assess the situation on the ground.
During the review, the Project Management Consultant (PMC) outlined both short-term and long-term measures. The short-term plans include erosion control works, stabilising landslide-prone stretches, building viaducts or elevated road sections, expanding certain portions of NH-10, and even creating tunnels in select areas.
For the long term, the consultants suggested a completely new alignment for NH-10, along with extensive tunneling projects to avoid constant landslide disruptions.
Bista stressed the need for quick decision-making, especially during the current monsoon season. He said that planning and tendering should be completed while rains are still on, so that construction can begin immediately after the monsoon ends. He urged that work in the most critical stretches should be finished by March, before the next rainy season begins.
Highlighting the sufferings of local people, Bista said that prolonged road closures and traffic jams this year had caused immense inconvenience. “The people of our region should not have to go through the same difficulties again. NHIDCL must act in a proactive way to avoid road shutdowns in the future,” he said.