The Sikkim government told the High Court on August 18, 2026, that 78% of construction on the long‑delayed Mantam Bridge over the Kanaka River in Upper Dzongu has been completed and the contractor is expected to finish the project by December 2026, a move officials say will restore permanent road connectivity for 13 isolated villages. The update was submitted as a compliance report during a public interest litigation hearing in the High Court of Sikkim.
“As per the report, it is seen that the contractor would complete the work by December, 2026. It is submitted that 78% of work has already been completed,” the court recorded. The bench directed Amicus Curiae Tashi Rapten Barfungpa to examine the report and place any recommendations before the court.
The Mantam Bridge, conceived as a two‑lane structure, is intended to reconnect Upper Dzongu communities — including Tingvong GPU, Sakyong‑Pentong GPU and Lingzya — that have lacked permanent road access since a massive landslide in August 2016. Residents currently face months of limited access during periods of high river flow, relying on lengthy detours or transhipment to reach essential services.
The project was sanctioned in September 2018 at an estimated cost of Rs 88.54 crore. The budget was later revised to Rs 97.89 crore in April 2025, and the completion timeline adjusted to December 2026. Work on the bridge suffered delays during the COVID‑19 pandemic in 2020–21, after the Teesta River glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) in 2023, and because of other logistical and environmental challenges.
If completed on the revised schedule, the Mantam Bridge will end a decade of disruption for Upper Dzongu’s villagers by providing all‑season, direct road access to the rest of Sikkim. The court‑appointed review and continued government oversight will be watched closely by local residents and administration alike as the December 2026 target approaches.
Original Source: https://www.sikkimexpress.com/news-details/dzongusmantam-bridge-work-78-complete-target-set-for-december-2026
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