DARJEELING,: The Kalimpong district administration has announced temporary restrictions on movement of passenger vehicles on NH 10 and all types of vehicles on SH12 from August 4 due to road damage and safety concerns.
According to an order issued by district magistrate Balasubramanian T. on Saturday, passenger vehicles are prohibited from traveling between Chitrey and Seti Jhora on NH 10 until further notice. Only light motor vehicles – private, official and emergency – are permitted to operate on NH10 from 6 am to 6 pm daily. Private vehicles are explicitly barred from functioning as taxis.
To maintain traffic flow, the DM said that single-lane traffic will be enforced at Selfi Dara, Birik Dara, 27th Mile, Likhu Veer and Andheri. The movement of heavy vehicles from Chitrey to Seti Jhora and vice versa remains closed as per a previous order.
The order also states that SH12 from Rabi Jhora to Teesta Bazaar (via Pesok) is closed for all vehicles due to road subsidence in the Deogram and Krishnagram areas of Teesta Bazaar.
Regarding the restriction on internal routes used as alternatives to the damaged NH 10, the DM stated, “A lot of complaints have been received and there have been instances of heavy damage to roads and accidents taking place on the internal roads in the district of Kalimpong. These roads have been serving as the alternative route for the damaged NH 10 stretch. Reports were received from different departments on the serious damages noticed along the stretches of the route of Reshi-Pedong-Algarah-Lava-Gorubathan towards Siliguri."
“In pursuance of these complaints and technical recommendations, partial modifications are being imposed on the ongoing restrictions for the safety of residents along the route and for the public using these stretches. Movement of all heavy vehicles having laden weight above 8 tonnes with a maximum of 6 wheelers from Gorubathan- Pandara to Reshi via Lava, Algarah and Pedong along with Gorubathan-Pandara to Kalimpong via Lava and Algarah shall remain closed until further order," the DM said, while adding that goods vehicles, buses and other heavy vehicles up to 8 tonnes shall continue to move via Reshi-Pedong-Algarah-Lava-Gorubathan to Siliguri.
Alternatively, small vehicles can move from Rangpoo towards Siliguri via Munsong-17th Mile-Algarah-Lava-Gorubathan to Siliguri and via Relli-Samthar-Panbu to Siliguri. The passenger vehicles have to use these alternative routes, the DM added.
