New Delhi: The Centre has taken a number of
steps to improve the national highway in Sikkim and has
released Rs 700 crore for the purpose under its Special
Accelerated Road Development Programme for the North East.
Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways R P N
Singh stated this in Rajya Sabha today.
He was intervening in a discussion on a Private Member's
resolution on development of Sikkim brought by O T Lepcha
(Sikkim Democratic Front).
The minister said 69 of the 77 critical locations on the
80 km-long NH-31A stretch, which links Sikkim with the
mainland, has been improved.
He said once the Border Road Organisation (BRO) okays the
remaining eight stretches, the ministry will act.
He also said the government has given in-principle
approval to an alternative 242 km-long highway to be
constructed between Chalsa and Rani Paul.
Besides, the Centre has sanctioned Rs 600 crore for
upgradation of the stretch between Rani Paul and Nathu-La.
Participating in the discussion, Lepcha said Sikkim is
popularly called 'mini-Switzerland' because of its scenic
beauty.
Saman Pathak (CPI-M) said government should provide proper
educational facilities and health services for development of
Sikkim.
Biswajit Daimary (Bodoland Peoples Front) said the state
as well as the entire North East has been neglected by the
Centre since long. He said if no development takes place in
the area, separatist groups will become active.
The resolution was supported by Silvius Condapan (Cong)
and Brij Bhusan Tiwari (BJP).
PTI
First Published: Thursday, November 26, 2009, 21:07