Gangtok: The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has approved a proposal to build an alternative highest between Melli and Singtam in Sikkim.
This will.be a greenfield highway and the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd. (NHIDCL) will take up the project.
The proposed 23 km highway will establish a direct connection between Melli and Singtam. It will ease thr traffic load on NH10 as vehicles running between these two locations will no longer have to take a detour.
Currently, this detour through NH10 has to be taken through Bengal to reach Melli from Singtam and vice versa.
Being a greenfield project, the highway will follow a new alignment. In such projects, the land acquisition cost is cheaper and the construction is easier.
The construction approvals coincide with Sikkim celebrating 50 years of statehood.
NHIDCL also comes with expertise in managing highways in mountain terrains. In October 2024, only the Sevoke-Rangpo stretch of NH10 was handed over to NHIDCL for maintenance and repairs
Earlier, the NH division of West Bengal PWD was assigned the task as NH10 connects Siliguri with Gangtok and is the principal link of the state bordering China.
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