"I have requested Mamataji for an no-objection certificate (NOC). I told her the alternative highway will be important for Sikkim as well as Darjeeling," Chamling told TOI. "An NOC from Bengal is also necessary for the construction of a rail link to Sikkim." The necessary NOC from the Bengal government is, however, still awaited.
The Sikkim government had earlier sent a plan for the alternative highway to the Centre since NH 31A from Siliguri to Gangtok is overused and often gets blocked due to landslides. But an NOC from the Bengal government is a must before the ministry of environment and forest gives the final approval.
The Sikkim government is mulling a new highway from Chalsa in north Bengal, connecting the existing NH 31A at Rongpo in Sikkim via Jaldhaka, passing through the Neora Valley forest in Bengal. The army had also favoured the proposal as it would improve road connectivity to strategically important east Sikkim. The proposed road would pass through four forests in Bengal and one in Sikkim.
Chamling was hopeful that the clearance won't be a problem now as he shares a better rapport with Mamata than her predecessor. After the September 18 earthquake, Mamata had visited Gangtok and on October 24, the two chief ministers met briefly at Bagdogra airport.
Chamling, who is now touring the earthquake-hit areas of north Sikkim, faced criticisms as roads links to Chungthang, Lachen, Lachung and the Dzongu area remained cut off for weeks after the tremor. "All the important roads in Sikkim, NH 31A, the North Sikkim Highway, the Nathu La Road and the Kuppup Road are maintained by the Border Roads Organization (BRO). A total of 873 kms of roads in Sikkim is maintained by the BRO. I have told both the DG BRO and the Chief Engineer BRO in Sikkim about the condition of these roads," Chamling said.
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