Seeking a foot overbridge across NH-31A at Central Referral Hospital gate

AN OPEN APPEAL TO THE GOVERNMENT OF SIKKIM
Kind attention is drawn to the fact that the Central Referral Hospital (CRH) situated at 5th Mile, Tadong, Gangtok, Sikkim had became an advance centre for healthcare services for the people of Sikkim and other states.  In addition, the first and only colleges for medical and allied education viz Sikkim Manipal Institute of Medical College (SMIMS), Sikkim Manipal College of Nursing (CON) and Sikkim Manipal College of Physiotherapy under the aegis of Sikkim Manipal University (SMU) respectively imparting MBBS, BPT and B.Sc Nursing degree courses are also situated together with CRH at this place.
The premises of the CRH, University and all the colleges mentioned are link by an approach road uphill of the 31A National Highway and the ‘Sarawati Mandir’ on downhill of the road are visited by large number of public each day. In particular, the student, parents, employees, patients, patient parties and well wishers reaches the hospital; colleges and University.  In order to reach there, they are required to cross the busy National Highway at different hours of the day and night.  In addition, the residents of adjoining villages above the hospital premises also constitute the category of pedestrians to cross the National Highway.
There are taxi stops on both side of the National Highway at this place to drop and pick the pedestrians, which are required by public to facilitate their movement to and from Gangtok and other places. The only National Highway to Gangtok remains busy with flow of traffic to and from Gangtok, Siliguri, and other places of the state.  Therefore, the pedestrians crossing this National Highway had to wait and watch the vehicle moving from up and down before they get chance to cross the road. Sometime due to high speed vehicle and sometime with vehicular congestion on National Highway, the pedestrians had to wait for more than 20 minutes or half an hour to cross the road.

Despite of fact that there is neither a signboard nor zebra crossing at this location to alert the drivers for the convenience to pedestrians in movement, there is no happening of major accident as on date but there is no certainty of such condition being maintained here against increasing number of vehicle on the road, cases of careless driving and speed of vehicular movement.  The traffic police deployed here could not be held responsible to watch 24 hours a day and avert the accident.
However, the most important aspect to be noted here is that the road is frequently crossed by sick people and students, who may not run fast to cross this National Highway as against the speed of the vehicle and traffic and hence requires either permanent or preventive measures before happening of any adverse accidents at this location.
In due consideration of the facts and circumstances stated, this appeal is placed before the Government of Sikkim for immediate attention on the issue for the construction of flyover to cross the 31A National Highway adjoining the approach road to hospital so as to provide relieve to the pedestrian from vehicular traffic with proper signage. This shall also save them from rise of blood pressure against the speed and congestion of the vehicle.
Since, the Government of Sikkim had already sanctioned flyovers at Deorali at Fiveways and Tadong at approach road to Government School, the public demand of similar one at 5th Mile, Tadong adjoining to CRH gateway shall enable flow of vehicular traffic without any hindrance in their movement, relieve the pedestrians from waiting time at the either side for crossing the road and avert the accident at this road to the State Capital of Sikkim.  This shall an activity towards social infrastructure development for the public welfare, to bring another asset to place, an asset for the convenience of the growing pedestrian to this locality.
Yours faithfully,
For & on behalf of the Pedestrians concern
D. Dilip Kumar
r/o, Metro Point, Tadong
Gangtok, Sikkim, India