Ill-timed repairs heave anxiety on border traders

ALL ENDS WELL AS B.R.O PUTS REPAIRS OFF FOR THE WEEK
GANGTOK, 25 Nov: Nathula border traders went through some anxious moments yesterday when they were told that access to Nathula, and hence to trading itself, would not be possible on 26 and 27 November. The information that the traders will not be able to go up to the Sherathang Border Trade Mart or cross over into Tibet came as a worrying update as there are only 4 days left before trade shuts down for the year. The last trading day for the season is 29 November, Thursday. The reason forwarded by Border Roads Organisation, as informed by traders, was that JN Road would be closed for traffic as the road agency will be undertaking repairs on a bridge along the route.
The bridge, on which repairs are supposed to be undertaken, has been identified as the Anda Bridge at 8th Mile on the JN Road en route to Sherathang. This came as a rather perplexing development particularly in light of the fact that only a few days are left for this trading season and many traders have lakhs in transactions still to be recovered.
A delegation of traders soon met with BRO officials as well as Sikkim Police on 24 November and on the request of the traders, BRO has agreed to put off the repairs till next week.
The bridge to be repaired, as informed by traders, is not in such a poor condition that it cannot withstand traffic for a few more days. Incidentally, with trade drawing to a close, there is expected to be a small ceremony by traders up at Sherathang on 29 November, the final trading day.