Former Minister proposes new route for alternative highway

CORONATION BRIDGE-BAGRAKOTE-SAILUNG-RISHI-RORATHANG-BHASMAY-SARAMSA AXIS MORE FEASIBLE AND ECONOMICAL THAN ALL OTHER OPTIONS, CLAIMS JB PRADHAN
GANGTOK, 15 Nov: Former Minister, JB Pradhan, a civil engineer by training, has proposed a route, different from those proposed by the West Bengal Government and the BRDF, for the construction of an alternative highway linking Sikkim to the rest of the country.
Addressing a press conference here today, Mr. Pradhan unveiled this 135 km long route from Saramsa [near Ranipool] to Coronation Bridge on NH 31A near Sevoke. This highway will take off from the Coronation Bridge to Bagrakote [11KM], move from Bagrakote to Sailung in Kafer [50 KM of new road], Sailung to Algarah-Rishi [40 KM new road linking to the existing road on this axis], Rishi to Rorathang [10 KM of new road] and then on to Rorathang to Bhasmay on Rorathang-Rangpo road and through a 24 km long tunnel below Sumin hill joining the Pakyong-Ranipool road at Saramsa. 
Also present at the press conference were former Chief Secretary, Gobind Pradhan, former MP, Nandu Thapa, and State Planning Commission member, Madan Chettri.
According to Mr Pradhan this proposed alignment offers the shortest, safest and the most economical option and will serve the needs of Sikkim as well as the strategic requirements of the country.
Mr Pradhan urged that the concerned authorities evaluate his proposal and take it up if it was found feasible and preferable to the option currently on the table.
An alternate to NH31A for Sikkim has been in discussions and demands for a while now.
On the route proposed by the West Bengal government from Bagrakote to Ranipool via Kafer-Rishi-Rhenock and direct to Ranipool, Mr Pradhan stressed that this alignment was not feasible as it was not possible to cut a road directly to Ranipool from Rhenock; it is not necessary to go up to Rhenock from Rishi and then come down again to the valley, he pointed out.
On the route proposed by the BRDF from Chalsa to Gorubathan, Jaldakha, Todhay, Racheyla, Aritar, Rongli, Pakyong, Ranipool, Mr. Pradhan said that it is too circuitous a route and does not serve the purpose from Sikkim’s economic perspective although from the defence point of view it might serve a purpose. He further added that it would be the longest route of around 260 km from Gangtok to Siliguri, a journey which currently travels only 114 kms in comparison. 
State Planning Commission member, Madan Chettri, stressing that the alternative highway route proposed by Mr. Pradhan will be suitable for the State, pointed out that the proposed route from Bagrakote to Rishi via Kafer/Algarah was very feasible as there are no major rivers or landslide prone areas along this alignment and that there is already a permanent bridge over Rishi Khola.   
He further mentioned that the proposed alternative highway project will cost around Rs 1000 crores.
“Sikkim urgently needs an alternative highway through a terrain, which, unlike the NH 31A, is not so vulnerable to landslides, subsidence and sinkage and toe erosion by rivers,” he expressed.
“Sikkim’s progress, prosperity and economy depends entirely on good road connectivity and apart from economic development this National Highway is of vital importance from the strategic point of view for national security,” he added.