The Sikkim High Court has questioned a traffic restriction at the Atal Setu Bridge that requires light vehicles exiting the state to detour through Rangpo town instead of using the bridge directly, and has asked the Additional Advocate General to explain why two-way movement for lighter vehicles is not permitted. The division bench — Chief Justice A. Muhamed Mustaque and Justice Meenakshi Madan Rai — raised the issue during a public interest litigation hearing on April 2, 2026, and directed the AAG to obtain instructions on the rationale for the restriction.
Atal Setu Bridge, located just beyond Rangpo, links the border town to neighbouring West Bengal along National Highway 10. Petitioners at the PIL told the court that lighter vehicles are being channelled through Rangpo rather than allowed to cross the bridge, a practice the bench said needed formal justification and legal instructions.
The court also noted reports of many heavy vehicles parked along the sides of the Atal Setu Bridge. The bench ordered that parking on the bridge must not be allowed and instructed traffic authorities to ensure that neither light nor heavy vehicles are permitted to park on the bridge margins.
By seeking a formal response from the Additional Advocate General, the High Court signalled that it will scrutinise the operational and safety reasons behind the current traffic arrangement. The matter remains under the court’s consideration pending the AAG’s report and any further directions from the division bench.
Original Source: https://www.sikkimexpress.com/news-details/high-court-questions-traffic-restriction-on-light-vehicles-at-atal-setu-bridge
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