Darjeeling MP Raju Bista on Thursday held a review meeting with senior officials of the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), who are in the region to conduct a detailed survey of NH-10 and chalk out solutions to its recurring problems. The officials will also inspect NH-717A to assess the ongoing construction work and challenges, Bista said.
It may be recalled that on 20 August, Bista submitted his NH-10 field visit report to Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, following which a high-level team was deputed to visit the highway.
At Thursday’s meeting, the Project Management Consultant (PMC) presented both short- and long-term solutions. The short-term plan includes erosion-control measures, stabilisation of landslide-prone areas, construction of viaducts, selective highway expansion, and tunnelling in certain stretches. For the long term, the PMC suggested a new alignment of NH-10 with additional tunnels to bypass landslide-prone zones.
“I have requested expedited decision-making, so that the planning and tendering processes can be completed during the monsoon itself. This will ensure that work begins as soon as the rains stop, and critical stretches are completed by March, before the next rain season,” Bista said.
He also stressed that prolonged closures and traffic disruptions, as experienced this year, must not be repeated. “The inconvenience caused to the people of our region was unacceptable. NHIDCL must take proactive steps to prevent such situations in the future,” the MP added.