Defence Minister Rajnath Singh virtually inaugurated a 71-kilometre-long two-lane road connecting the Dooars and Kalimpong. The Border Roads Organisation constructed the new route over a six-year period at a cost of Rs 3.5 billion. It will serve as an alternate route to Kalimpong and Sikkim, benefiting defence forces, tourists, and the general public. The main highway connecting these areas to the rest of the country, NH10, is prone to landslides, which disrupt traffic during the monsoon season. The new road was one of 75 projects completed by the BRO and was virtually inaugurated by Singh. The BRO reports to the defence ministry. Jalpaiguri MP Jayanta Roy attended a programme at Damdim in the Malbazar subdivision of Jalpaiguri district organised by the BRO and the GREF (General Reserve Engineering Force), a wing of the BRO. Damdim and Algarah in Kalimpong district are linked by this road. Residents of Sikkim and Kalimpong have been demanding an alternate route that will allow them to reach Siliguri and the Dooars without difficulty, especially during the monsoon season. “In every rainy season, landslides occur along NH10, mostly between Sevoke and Teesta Bazar, and interrupt traffic for hours and even for days. The landslides cause huge inconvenience to people as they have to take turnaround routes to reach Siliguri or vice-versa. Tourists also face the problem while travelling to Sikkim and Kalimpong. This new road will largely help them,” said Roy. The MP also stated that there are a number of tourist destinations along the Damdim-Algarah route, including Gorubathan, Jhandi, Lava, and Loleygaon. “Now that the road has been readied by the BRO, tourists can easily reach these places. It will also increase the inflow of tourists in coming days,” he said. The alternative road, which will connect to NH717 at Algarah, is also important for national security. The National Highway Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited is building NH717 from the Dooars to Sikkim, bypassing NH10. “Sikkim sits on the India-China border and there had been stand-offs between the armies of the two countries. Considering the vulnerability of NH10, an alternative road is necessary. It is good that a considerable stretch of the road is ready for use. It will help in the movement of defence forces and equipment,” said a retired army officer. See also: BRO to build durable steel slag road in Arunachal Bridge at 14,000 ft among 75 BRO projects dedicated by Rajnath