Lok Sabha MP Indra Hang Subba has urged Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari to intervene immediately and provide a permanent fix — either a bypass tunnel or a cut-and-cover tunnel — for recurring landslides at the 20th Mile Bardang stretch of NH-10, a problem that has severely disrupted road connectivity for Sikkim since early July 2026. The MP met the minister at Parliament House on Monday, July 27, 2026, and submitted a detailed representation, the release said.
Officials from the National Highways Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) report that expanding landslides and growing land instability at 20th Mile have crippled vehicular movement, hampered the flow of essential commodities and freight, and hit tourism and local economic activity. Restoration and clearance operations continue, but NHIDCL says the gradual expansion of the slide front is making recovery work increasingly difficult.
In his representation, Indra Hang called for a comprehensive geotechnical investigation of the landslide-prone stretch. He asked the ministry to commission the study and, based on its technical, environmental and economic findings, to consider constructing a bypass tunnel or a cut-and-cover tunnel as the most sustainable long-term solution.
The MP argued that repeated slope-stabilization measures over the years have not resolved the recurring failures, and that a tunnel-based alternative would deliver safer, all-weather connectivity, reduce monsoon-season closures and strengthen the resilience of NH-10. He also urged that premier geotechnical institutions and independent experts be involved to ensure the most appropriate engineering solution is selected.
NHIDCL has already prepared and submitted a Detailed Project Report (DPR) to the ministry proposing four tunnels along the Rangpo–Singtam stretch of NH-10. According to officials, the proposed tunnel lengths would range from about 60 metres to 750 metres and are intended to make the highway all-weather once approved and implemented.
Recognizing NH-10’s strategic importance for Sikkim, Indra Hang appealed for the matter to be prioritised and for necessary directions to be issued to expedite the geotechnical investigation and the implementation of the recommended engineering measures.
Original Source: https://www.sikkimexpress.com/news-details/20th-mile-landslide-indra-hang-urges-ministrys-immediate-intervention
Category:
Tags:
Publish Date:
