The Centre approved Rs 993 crore to upgrade the Rangpo-Ranipool stretch of NH10 in Sikkim. Nitin Gadkari said the fund would develop the stretch into a two-lane highway with paved shoulders. This project aims to boost tourism and trade, as frequent road disruptions have hurt the state’s economy for years.
Union road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari said the fund would develop the stretch into a two-lane highway with paved shoulders
The Centre has approved ₹993 crore to upgrade the Rangpo-Ranipool stretch of NH10 in Sikkim, a boost for the Himalayan state whose tourism and economy have repeatedly suffered from disruptions on its principal link with the rest of the country.
Union road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari said the fund would develop the stretch into a two-lane highway with paved shoulders.
"In Sikkim, we have approved ₹993.64 crore for the development of NH10 from Rangpo to Ranipool into a 2-lane highway with paved shoulders, including the construction of tunnels, viaducts and treatment of vulnerable sliding and sinking zones," Gadkari announced on social media.
The distance between Rangpo and Ranipool is around 28 kilometers.
The proposed works include bridges and cut-and-cover sections, besides tunnels and viaducts, to improve the corridor's resilience in the challenging Himalayan terrain.
Gadkari said the upgraded road would benefit tourism, agriculture, horticulture and the movement of essential goods, while strengthening strategic connectivity for defence personnel and supplies. Sikkim shares borders with China, Nepal and Bhutan.
Disruption in road connectivity has hit Sikkim hard in the past few years. This monsoon, the Himalayan state faced major disruptions due to landslides at the 20th Mile area near Bardan.
Tourism stakeholders maintain that disruptions in road connectivity have hit the sector hard since the glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) in October 2023.
Sikkim chief minister Prem Singh Tamang (Golay) said in 2024 that the state was losing ₹100 crore every day due to the closure of NH10.
"As NH10 has closed down, traffic to Sikkim has been affected. It is also taking a toll on the state's economy and we are losing ₹100 crore every day as SGST (the state's share of goods and services tax)," Golay said in 2024.
Landlocked Sikkim also depends heavily on the 52km stretch of NH10 in Bengal from Sevoke to Rangpo, which has recurring landslides, subsidence and erosion along the Teesta river.
The National Highway & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), which maintains the highway, has restricted movement of all vehicles from 9pm to 6am in two phases along the 52km stretch. The first phase started on October 7 and would continue till October 15. The second phase will be between October 26 and November 5.
Central funds to upgrade the NH10 stretch has brought cheer in the state.
Sikkim's lone Lok Sabha MP, Indra Hang Subba thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union minister Gadkari, and acknowledged the efforts of chief minister Golay and state minister of roads and bridges Nar Bahadur Dahal. "This is an important step towards a better-connected Sikkim, benefiting our people, tourism, agriculture, trade and strategic connectivity," Subba said.