The Central government has sanctioned Rs. 11.75 bn for construction of a six-lane bridge across River Teesta at Sevoke in West Bengal’s Darjeeling district. The project is intended to provide an alternative to the ageing Coronation Bridge and improve road links between the Siliguri Corridor, Sikkim and the northeastern states. The 6.91-km project includes the main bridge and its approaches on NH-10, formerly NH-31, under the National Highways Authority of India. Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari announced the approval, which is valued at Rs. 11.76 bn in the detailed sanction, while an earlier proposal had been cleared at Rs. 8.44 bn. A tender for the earlier proposal was cancelled. The new structure is planned near Sevoke, about 2 km downhill from the existing Coronation Bridge, popularly called Bagh Pool; a railway bridge is currently the only bridge near the proposed site. Once completed, it will shorten the route between Sevoke and Ellenbari in Jalpaiguri district by around 10 km. Vehicles travelling from Siliguri to Sikkim through National Highway 717A and towards the Northeast on NH-10 now use the Coronation Bridge. The existing route is vulnerable to landslides and accidents and frequently faces heavy congestion, making the alternative crossing important for passenger and freight movement. The bridge is also expected to support trade, tourism, logistics and regional integration, while improving access to the Dooars, a tea-growing area with national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. Officials said the proposal had been discussed since the early 1990s, with soil tests conducted by the West Bengal Public Works Department, but it was not taken forward. A demand for the project was raised in Parliament in December 2009, and local representatives have linked the new crossing to road safety and national security because of the existing bridge’s age.