Editorial:
The 114 kms from Siliguri to Gangtok, even by the recommended slower driving speeds for mountain roads, should not take too many more minutes than two hours of travel time. Even the rashest of driving, however, can make the journey only in three and a half hours at the quickest, not a single minute of which is comfortable.
Connectivity for Sikkim, ambushed by bandhs and landslides till some years ago, is now beset with the challenge of an extremely poor road condition; the entire journey punishes both, the vehicle and its occupants, with a bone-jarring experience which even the most advanced shock-absorbers can mitigate only very slightly. The 18 September Earthquake is being blamed for the crumbling away of the NH 31A, but this excuse is only partly correct because what has pulverised the highway into its present disrepair is not so much the temblor as the combined assault of poor planning, shoddy engineering and abuse.
Speak to older engineers and they will point out that the road was not constructed for the kind of loads it is made to bear nowadays. This is correct, but more than a century ago, when the NH 31A alignment was cut through, road users could ferry only so much load. As vehicular use increased, most other roads were reinforced for the increased loads which could be moved, but no such thought was invested on NH 31A it appears. When prepared for loads of up to 5 tonnes initially, this would have been a sturdy road by the standards of those times, but to suggest that bulkier carriage of the present times have ruined the road is to approach the problem from the wrong end. A highway, especially one which serves a State as its sole lifeline, should have been constantly upgraded as the years passed on and usage and carriage patterns changed. Surely, the planners, when they raised the Border Roads Organisation and then set up an exclusive wing for the road to and within Sikkim, they did not earmark the manpower only to keep the roads open, it must also have been to plan ahead and in time to ensure commensurate improvement of the road’s worthiness for the changing times. This has obviously not happened and the only long-term projections appear to be widening works with not enough being done to reinforce the roads effectively. Also, even if one to accept that the Sikkim Himalayas are young and unstable, it is difficult to comprehend the fragility of the roads; better technology must be available to allow Sikkim the reliance of sturdier roads. Why is it not being appropriated? The increase in tourist arrivals over the past decade and a half and the ease with which vehicles can now be owned should have seen a parallel expansion of the roads and creation of alternate routes. Coordination is also missing, it appears. When the planners in the State identified tourism and hydel generation as thrust areas, they should have brought organisations like BRO into the loop and briefed them on the kind of road improvements required. Instead, we now have a situation where the BRO often blames hydel projects for having over-burdened the roads.
It is clear that there is a lot that was not addressed when it comes to Sikkim’s road requirements, but what is more important is for the situation to be amended. Tourism has already suffered a setback due to the earthquake and if the roads are not repaired and improved in time, not only will Sikkim lose repeat visitors, but word of mouth bad publicity of travelling to Sikkim will divert prospective guests to other destinations. In its present condition, the NH 31A is not advisable for heavy load traffic and there have already been instances of such carriers breaking down and even toppling over on the highway disrupting traffic. This will further disrupt the progress of hydel projects and industries in the State. Too much rides on the state of Sikkim’s roads and it is time that the issue was taken up in earnest and an intelligent and coordinated approach rolled out to resolve it.
The 114 kms from Siliguri to Gangtok, even by the recommended slower driving speeds for mountain roads, should not take too many more minutes than two hours of travel time. Even the rashest of driving, however, can make the journey only in three and a half hours at the quickest, not a single minute of which is comfortable.
Connectivity for Sikkim, ambushed by bandhs and landslides till some years ago, is now beset with the challenge of an extremely poor road condition; the entire journey punishes both, the vehicle and its occupants, with a bone-jarring experience which even the most advanced shock-absorbers can mitigate only very slightly. The 18 September Earthquake is being blamed for the crumbling away of the NH 31A, but this excuse is only partly correct because what has pulverised the highway into its present disrepair is not so much the temblor as the combined assault of poor planning, shoddy engineering and abuse.
Speak to older engineers and they will point out that the road was not constructed for the kind of loads it is made to bear nowadays. This is correct, but more than a century ago, when the NH 31A alignment was cut through, road users could ferry only so much load. As vehicular use increased, most other roads were reinforced for the increased loads which could be moved, but no such thought was invested on NH 31A it appears. When prepared for loads of up to 5 tonnes initially, this would have been a sturdy road by the standards of those times, but to suggest that bulkier carriage of the present times have ruined the road is to approach the problem from the wrong end. A highway, especially one which serves a State as its sole lifeline, should have been constantly upgraded as the years passed on and usage and carriage patterns changed. Surely, the planners, when they raised the Border Roads Organisation and then set up an exclusive wing for the road to and within Sikkim, they did not earmark the manpower only to keep the roads open, it must also have been to plan ahead and in time to ensure commensurate improvement of the road’s worthiness for the changing times. This has obviously not happened and the only long-term projections appear to be widening works with not enough being done to reinforce the roads effectively. Also, even if one to accept that the Sikkim Himalayas are young and unstable, it is difficult to comprehend the fragility of the roads; better technology must be available to allow Sikkim the reliance of sturdier roads. Why is it not being appropriated? The increase in tourist arrivals over the past decade and a half and the ease with which vehicles can now be owned should have seen a parallel expansion of the roads and creation of alternate routes. Coordination is also missing, it appears. When the planners in the State identified tourism and hydel generation as thrust areas, they should have brought organisations like BRO into the loop and briefed them on the kind of road improvements required. Instead, we now have a situation where the BRO often blames hydel projects for having over-burdened the roads.
It is clear that there is a lot that was not addressed when it comes to Sikkim’s road requirements, but what is more important is for the situation to be amended. Tourism has already suffered a setback due to the earthquake and if the roads are not repaired and improved in time, not only will Sikkim lose repeat visitors, but word of mouth bad publicity of travelling to Sikkim will divert prospective guests to other destinations. In its present condition, the NH 31A is not advisable for heavy load traffic and there have already been instances of such carriers breaking down and even toppling over on the highway disrupting traffic. This will further disrupt the progress of hydel projects and industries in the State. Too much rides on the state of Sikkim’s roads and it is time that the issue was taken up in earnest and an intelligent and coordinated approach rolled out to resolve it.
Truely Said, the bumpy ride from gangtok to silliguri is surely a ride and not a drive.... i guess a horse ride would be more comfortable. The excruciating journey rattles us inside out. Being a local i travel the nh31A once a month or two and despite that every journey is a hell ride and by the time we reach gangtok\siliguri, we are mostly far from fresh forget about carrying out any business or work. I have travelled in a number of other hill stations around India, and i have definitely seen much better roads. Moreso being a "National Highway" and that too the only lifeline cnnnecting Sikkim much touted as "Tourist`s Paradise", the welcome journey into Sikkim is very tiring and horrendous for many. Sikkim is now on the global map of tourism for its peace and beauty, however the approach road to this Heaven is no less than Hell. and of course much plagued lately by Bandhs and Landslides. I guess an alternative highway which in on the cards since long really needs to materialise and the condition of the existing road should be enhanced,upgraded and maybe redesigned to minimize nature`s wrath on it,mazimise quality and durability and make the ride ti Sikkim -The Heaven of Peace... a Heavenly Ride indeed !
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