Rangpo: National Highway 10 has once again been closed for repairs from October 13 to 16, following an official order issued by the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL).
The order restricts movement of vehicles along the Sevoke (West Bengal) to Rangpo (Sikkim) stretch, one of the most crucial lifelines connecting Sikkim with the rest of India.
According to NHIDCL officials, the road at mile marker 38 kilometre (from the Sevoke side) has sunk by nearly two metres, making it unsafe for vehicle movement.
The 27th and 29th mile stretches further towards Sevoke have also suffered repeated landslides and road cave-ins, compounding the travel disruption. During the recent Dasain festival rush, the route witnessed long traffic jams as thousands of vehicles attempted to travel between Sikkim and Bengal.
An alternative route through Munsung via Lava-Gorubathan to reach the Coronation Bridge now serves as the only connectivity between Siliguri and the hills, offering limited but essential access for both residents and transporters of Sikkim and North Bengal.
Officials noted that ever since the 2023 glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF), key stretches of NH-10 on the West Bengal side have been prone to recurrent landslides and subsidence. The GLOF had destabilised several sections along the Teesta River, increasing the vulnerability of the terrain to heavy rainfall and erosion.
Prakash Tamang, a contractor working with NHIDCL, said that the affected section had been deteriorating for months despite several rounds of temporary repairs.
“We tried multiple times to repair the stretch, but it didn’t hold. Earlier, we were instructed to start cutting work, but permission was delayed. Now that approval has finally been granted, the work will be completed within three to four days,” Tamang said.
He explained that the road had sunk by nearly two to three metres and required thorough leveling and riverbank protection measures. “Without 100% protection near the river, the same issue will reoccur. Proper retention and reinforcement are critical to ensuring long-term stability,” he added.
Local residents and business owners along NH-10 say the repeated disruptions have severely impacted livelihoods.
Arun Kumar, a restaurant owner near the affected stretch, shared that the constant road damage has led to heavy losses for small businesses. “Business has been badly affected. This is usually our main season from October to January, but it’s completely down. Since 2023, we’ve faced ongoing losses because of roadblocks and collapses,” he said.
Kumar noted that essential supplies from Siliguri have become costlier due to increased transport time and fuel expenses. “We’re forced to buy at double rates locally. Almost every shop here is facing the same issue. The road is our lifeline—without it, everything slows down,” he said.
With the onset of the winter season, officials expect relatively dry weather, which may allow frequent repair works to be carried out more efficiently. However, the same dry months are also peak tourist season in the region, and continuous repair activity could affect tourism across Sikkim and North Bengal.
Locals have urged authorities to prioritise a long-term, sustainable solution instead of recurring patchwork repairs. NHIDCL has assured that it is deploying additional machinery and manpower to ensure the work is completed within the announced timeframe.
For now, commuters between Sikkim and West Bengal will have to rely on the alternative Munsung-Lava-Gorubathan route until NH-10 reopens on October 16.
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