9 Mile acts up again and jams return to national highway

RANIPOOL, 04 August: For almost a fortnight now, commuters headed out of Gangtok on the National Highway invariably battle not just humidity and heat once they cross Ranipool, but also drive into a traffic snarl at the notorious trouble-spot of 9th Mile, which, like it does every monsoon, has sunk again.
Persistent rainfall and heavy traffic along the Gangtok-Singtam stretch has disrupted traffic to such an extent that jams last for almost an hour at times. Commuters and drivers alike have to face severe inconveniences with many deciding walk across the trouble-spot and catch vehicles on the other side.
Heavy rainfall is also making efficient road repairs and restoration works being conducted by the BRO difficult. Sikkim Police meanwhile monitors the ‘snail-paced’ movement of traffic at the stretch.
Traffic jams are reported to stretch as far down the road as Ranipool School, Namli Bhir and further upto 12 Mile towards Singtam. Similar traffic snarls are also reported from areas like Gaidhara where an alternate road work is being undertaken by the BRO.
With the persistent rains and the BRO having to manage more than five trouble spots along the Ranipool-Singtam road, work progress is slow and traffic jams are back on the highway.