NH10 likely to reopen at 20th Mile landslide from Aug 8 after restoration push

Road connectivity along NH10 at the 20th Mile landslide stretch between Singtam and Rangpo is expected to resume from August 8, after nearly a month of disruption. The road was damaged on July 7, affecting daily travel and transport in the area.

On Friday, Roads and Bridges Minister N.B. Dahal visited the landslide site and reviewed restoration work in progress. After the inspection, he said the road-opening activity is moving well and that vehicular movement is likely to resume by Saturday afternoon.

Commuters have used alternate routes since July 7

Since the NH10 closure, commuters have been using routes through Samardung in Namchi district and the Rangpo-Duga road in Pakyong district. Many passengers have also been walking across the landslide stretch and then using transit vehicles on either side.

The minister also said the government is working on a permanent solution for the affected stretch. Earlier, a 50-metre tunnel was proposed, but the scale of this year’s landslide has led to a review. A revised Detailed Project Report is planned, with the DPR proposing a longer tunnel to match the current conditions.

Widening work on NH10 stretch planned for December

Dahal added that widening of the Rangpo-Singtam stretch of NH 10 is scheduled to begin this December. He said the proposed longer tunnel is expected to be taken up under the larger improvement project. He also pointed to support for long-term connectivity, including an assurance of a Greenfield Highway to strengthen the state’s links.

Dahal said the prolonged closure has caused losses for Sikkim, affecting the movement of goods and construction materials. He said it has also impacted GST revenue. He expressed hope the landslide area will stabilize if the region does not see heavy rainfall in the coming days.