Paljor Stadium Road to be one-way on Republic Day

GANGTOK, 22 Jan: Only one way traffic will be allowed on the Paljor Stadium Road on Republic Day i.e 26 January, the East district Traffic Police has notified.
A press release issued by the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Traffic, Ongmu Bhutia, informs that the road from DPH Junction to District Administration Centre at Sichey and DPH Junction to Sichey Cooperative Junction have been declared one-way for the convenience of public and pedestrians coming to witness the Republic Day celebration at Paljor Stadium.
The Gangtok Traffic police have further requested the people coming to witness the Republic Day function to follow one side of the road for their safety and to give free passage to vehicular movement on the day.

Suspended bridge project adds to traffic woes on Singtam-Mangan highway

MANGAN, 11 Sept: The under construction Marchak bridge on the Mangan-Singtam axis has become a nuisance for vehicles and commuters on this route. The delay in construction has turned it into a trouble spot with the road formation becoming very narrower due to the ongoing construction of the bridge.
Construction had begun a couple of years ago but is now abandoned. It has been almost a year since construction work was discontinued and the local public here are not aware of the reasons behind this.
Work on the bridge, which falls under BRO, was awarded to a sub-contractor, it is learnt.
At the same time, the Kali Khola bridge near Makha, also on the Mangan-Singtam highway, which receives high volume traffic including heavy vehicles, also lies abandoned. It is learnt that construction of this bridge was completed a year ago and the contractor had handed over the bridge to the BRO.
However, filling of the walls at the two ends of the bridge was left to be done which has not been carried out. The public have appealed to the BRO to complete construction of both the bridges at the earliest.

Joint Task Force formed to recommend traffic management solutions for Gangtok

GANGTOK, 09 Aug: The capital town of Gangtok has been experiencing some serious issues concerning traffic management. With the Border Roads Organisation engaged in a painstakingly slow black-topping project on the national highway leading up to Gangtok, bottlenecks are being sprung leading to traffic snarls surprising for a hill town. This, coupled with the fact that the highway is the only road in and out of Gangtok with only a few arterial roads, traffic management has become a nightmare especially with whopping increase in the number of vehicles on the road of late.
With such a scenario facing the administration, a Joint Task Force headed by no less than the Chief Secretary himself has been constituted by the State government to take up issues pertaining to vehicular traffic in Gangtok and to recommend measures. The task force, it is informed, has been instituted for the speed redressal of traffic issues concerning Gangtok and surrounding areas.
As informed, the Joint Task Force will receive proposals for improvement of traffic in and around Gangtok from the various agencies involved following which it shall make recommendations, as felt appropriate, to the state government for issue of necessary directions.
In this regard a mechanism is to be evolved to improve inter-departmental coordination between various State and Central Government agencies for efficient traffic management. It will also monitor the progress of the concerned departments and agencies in the timely resolution of issues for the convenience of the general public as well as tourists.
The task force also comprises the DGP, Additional Chief Secretary and Secretaries of Forest, UD&HD, Roads and Bridges, Transport, PHE, and Power Departments. It also includes the DC and SP east district, Chief Engineer, Project Swastik and the Chief Municpal Officer, GMC.

North Sikkim Highway closed at Rangrang for last 5 days

MANGAN, 29 June: The North Sikkim Highway to Mangan has remained closed for the last five days due to back cutting work at Rangrang near the GREF camp there. GREF labours and staff are working at the site but the public feel that the pace of work is inordinately slow.
The public and commuters suggested that all debris and stones be cleared from the stretch so that at least light vehicles could ply. At present, vehicles have to take a two hour longer route accessing Pheedang from Dikchu and travelling on to Sankalang and through to Mangan. Travel time from Dikchu to Mangan when Rangrang is open, is a quick half an hour.
The BRO officials posted in the area informed that dumping the debris is a problem since it cannot be dumped on the roadside as it is a sinking zone and the area also falls under private land holdings. Hence, the boulders have to be broken down and moved to other places through GREF tippers which takes time. Meanwhile, traffic is expected to resume from Saturday.

Authorities and public discuss Gangtok’s traffic woes at ‘Khulla Manch’

ROPEWAY TO LIGHTEN BURDEN ON ROAD TRAFFIC IN THE OFFING, INFORMS MAYOR
GANGTOK, 02 May: ‘Khulla Manch’ - an open forum to debate on traffic related issues was held today at 11:30 AM in front of the District Control Room, MG Marg. The event was organized by the Press Club of Sikkim in collaboration with Sikkim Police, East District.
Answering the queries of the public was a panel consisting of the GMC Mayor, KN Topgay, GMC Deputy Mayor, Shakti Singh, Senior Superintendent of Police [East], Dr MS Tuli, SDPO [Gangtok] Ongmu Bhutia, DSP [Traffic], Sonam P Bhutia and Senior RTO, PK Basnett from the Motor Vehicle Department.
Addressing the gathering of people, GMC Mayor, KN Topgay congratulated the Press Club of Sikkim and the Sikkim Police, East District for taking such an initiative. This is a good initiative but for such events public participation is a must, he added.
Gangtok is facing a lot of traffic related problems and they need to be addressed and the public should come forward and speak on the problems faced by them, the Mayor said.
On the queries related to challaning of licenses and checking road worthy vehicles, the Senior RTO informed that this was necessary because of late many drivers had been caught with fake driving licenses which had made their way into the state from across the border, which needed to be dealt with immediately. While the checking of vehicles and registration certificates was also necessary in order to ascertain the road worthiness of the vehicle and whether the person driving the vehicle had renewed the necessary papers or not as ‘human life is most precious’, he added.
Answering the question on traffic lights put up at Hospital Point, Senior SP [East], Dr MS Tuli stated that although much money had been spent to put up the lights, their location is such that it had become nearly impossible for them to function properly. Moreover the traffic at Hospital Point is so heavy that timing of changing the lights was also a very big problem, he added.
Speaking on the parking of VIP and senior police officers’ vehicles in front of Tourism, the SSP [East] informed that there was no special permission given to the vehicles, but they were allowed to park just to drop or pick up the VIPs or to park during functions held at MG Marg. He also made a request to all such vehicles to avoid parking their vehicles there for other reasons.
The GMC Mayor, KN Topgay, speaking on the queries of traffic congestion and traffic jams stated that the number of vehicles in the Capital was increasing day-by-day and building of car parks was not the only option, but there was a need to work on reducing vehicle usage by people. According to a survey conducted recently it was found that around 450 vehicles are sold in a month from the showrooms in and around Gangtok, he added.
It is time we started to think 20 years ahead and not just two or three years, so the GMC in its next City Development Plan to be put up soon proposes to construct ropeways for commuting from Ranipool to Gangtok and its vicinities, he stated.
The forum was actively participated by citizens from all walks of society, where problems, grievances and suggestions related to traffic management and road safety measures of Gangtok were openly discussed. People had also sent their problems and suggestions through e-mail and SMS, which were also addressed during the event.

‘Khulla Manch’ called for 27 Apr to discuss traffic issues

GANGTOK, 24 April: Press Club of Sikkim is organising a ‘Khulla Manch’ - an open forum to debate on traffic related issues, in collaboration with Sikkim Police, East District on 27 April in front of the District Control Room, MG Marg, Gangtok.
A press release informs that the forum will be open for citizens of all walks of society from 4 pm to 5 pm. All stakeholders including the general public, drivers, students and other sections of the society can place their problems, grievances and suggestions related to traffic management and road safety measures of Gangtok.
Superintendent of Police (East), Dr MS Tuli and senior police officials would be present to respond to the queries and problems raised by the general public. Those who are unable to attend the said forum can also send their problems and suggestions through e-mails to gangtokpolice@gmail.com, gangtokpolicestation@gmail.com, pressclubofsikkim@gmail.com and sagarchh@yahoo.com or through SMS on 98324-24750, the release informs.
Press Club of Sikkim hereby invites everyone to attend the said event and come forward to sort out the traffic related problems in the capital, the release adds.

New Year white-out makes Tsomgo out of bounds

GANGTOK, 02 Jan: All traffic to Tsomgo and beyond has been suspended for two days [starting today] with the upper reaches of East Sikkim covered in a fresh blanket of rather heavy snow. It began snowing in the area from 10th Mile on JN Road [to Nathula] and above with New Year’s day and continued through today. There had been intermittent snowfall in December as well, but this is the first continuing fall of the season, locals inform.

One dead body still untraced

RANGCHANG BRIDGE COLLAPSE UPDATE
OLD BRIDGE RESTORED, AWAITS OFFICIAL PERMISSION TO ACCEPT TRAFFIC
MANGAN, 21 Dec:  The dead body of K Srinivasan Rao, an engineer with Teesta Urja, is yet to be recovered from the debris of the Rangchang Bridge which collapsed on 19 December. Mr. Rao was on board the 48-wheeler when the bridge collapsed as the trailer was crossing it on Monday afternoon. The dead bodies of the remaining seven people, including two pedestrians, killed in the bridge collapse have been retrieved, with the seventh body pulled out late on Tuesday evening.

Jhora floods NH31A with debris at Rambi, traffic disrupted

GANGTOK, 17 June: Traffic along NH-31A came to a halt for more than 12 hours starting last night when vehicles on either side of the highway were stranded near Rambi on the West Bengal side after a jhora there broke its banks and brought down water, slush and debris. This is the first NH 31A disruption this monsoon.
The Janmukti Chalak Mahasangh president, Milan Pradhan, informs that heavy rains along the highway on the West Bengal side last night triggered a flash flood in the jhora which flows down from the lower reaches of Darjeeling at 27th Mile, near the NHPC dam site, where it meets the Teesta.

22nd Road Safety Week observed in Mangan

MANGAN, 11 March: The Transport Department of Mangan, North District organized the 22nd Road Safety Week at Mangan on 07 March. The programme started with a rally from BAC Mangan to the Community hall where a welcome address was delivered by Regional Transport Officer (N), KS Gurung.

Senior Superintendent of Police (N) BK Tamang in his address shared information on road safety and the recently formed Road Safety Committee, North District which has District Magistrate (N) as the Chairman. Road accidents have been a major cause of deaths in the area and from 2009 - 2011 a total of 47 accidents occurred in the North district with 21deaths, 19 grievously injured and 70 with minor injuries, Mr Tamang informed. Most accident cases have been due to alcoholism and negligence, he added further suggesting that BRO and Power Project developers staff should also be invited for such programmes.

PI Traffic Gangtok, Arjun Chettri, highlighted on traffic rules and regulations 1989 and 1999 for road safety. In 2010 a total of189 motor accidents were recorded in the state in which 71% victims lost their lives out of which 83 were male and 69 female, he informed.
The ADC (N), S Targain said that drivers are 'Ambassadors of Wheel' and that everyday should be observed as Road Safety Day.

Chairman, Transport Department, TW Lepcha, present as the chief guest, in his address suggested to the Transport Department Officers to organize awareness programmes in coordination with the Road Safety Committee. Road accidents not only affect an individual but also the family of the injured or the dead, he said. It has also been observed that it is mostly the VIP's and Police Department vehicles that break traffic rules which need to be corrected along with a change in the mental attitude of those concerned.

Mr Lepcha also suggested that during the tourist season vehicle checking should be given relief as it is a hassle for tourists. Proper information with regard to the new tax system should be provided to drivers and vehicle owners by the department, he added. He also urged dropout students of Class VIII, X and XII to meet the area MLA for tourist guide, hotel management etc. training which is scheduled to begin from April this year.

MO, District hospital in her address, focused on the role of factors like human error and weather as causing accidents.

At the end, Prem Tamang (NDTDA), Dawzang Lachungpa (Mainline Taxi), Karma Gyatso Bhutia (Government Vehicle) and Chola Lachenpa (NDLTDA) were felicitated with certificates for Best Drivers of the year. The vote of thanks was delivered by Motor Vehicle Inspector, Krishna Lamichaney.

The programme was also attended by Zilla Adhyaksha (N), Khamsoom Lepcha, BDO Mangan, ST Tamang, MNP Councilors, KJ Bhutia and PK Malu, members of North Sikkim Local Taxi Driver’s Association, North Sikkim Tata Driver Association, North Sikkim Government Driver’s Association, students of MSSS, NSA, Singhik SS, Pakshep and Rangrang JHS, Panchayats and drivers.