The Kalimpong district administration in West Bengal issued an official notification stating that vehicular traffic along NH 10 between Sikkim and neighboring West Bengal’s Siliguri will face restrictions for three days next week.
According to a notification, the highway will be closed from 6 am to 6 pm on May 9 for bituminous works by the PWD’s National Highway Division between Rabi Jhora and Gail Khola on the West Bengal side of the border.
Traffic diverted to Siliguri in West Bengal
For the convenience of tourists and commuters, the administration has diverted traffic from Rangpo in Sikkim to Siliguri in West Bengal via two alternative routes: one through Munsong-17th Mile-Algarah-Lava-Gorubathan and vice versa, and the other via Chitrey-Kalimpong town-Algarah-Lava-Gorubathan.
Heavy goods carriers will travel via either the Chitrey or the Reshi-Pedong route to Siliguri and vice versa.
Sikkim’s tourism to be impacted
These restrictions may affect the tourism sector in the Himalayan state during the peak season. Sikkim witnessed a significant increase in tourist arrivals during the first quarter of 2024.
According to official figures released by the Department of Tourism and Civil Aviation, the state attracted 290,401 tourists until March 31, 2024. Among them, 256,537 were domestic tourists, while 30,864 were foreigners.