As explained earlier the activities to remove the deficiencies in the low cost roads that is widening (1st Phase) ; providing protection, drainage & macadam layers (2nd Phase) and carpeting them (Final Phase) – are undertaken under this major head. Based on the importance of the roads from the angle of population served by a particular road; economic development & social service need in the areas; tourism potential of the area served by roads; etc., schemes for different roads for widening, for carrying out 2nd Phase work and for carpeting have been drawn. Since most of the roads are lying at the intermediate stages they are essentially on-going works even though the works on the subsequent phases may not have been taken at hand presently. During the Eighth plan, the following important low cost roads are proposed to be widened :

The topographical features of the State is such that many areas are prone to major landslides. A fairly large segment of the road network is plagued by numerous slips because of the geologically fragile terrain which are indiscriminately exposed to heavy rainfall lasting for months together. The need to undertake preventive measures once for all in such vulnerable areas is imperative. A list of some of the major slip areas affecting not only the road network but also the large forest area and villages above and below such slides the road network which have been identified for comprehensive protection measures are shown below :

1. Pechrek slip of Kaluks-Dentam road.
2. Changey slip of Pelling – Dentam road.
3. Chumbong slip at 12th Km. on Budang – Chakung- Soreng road.
4. Narak slip of Mamring – Phong road.
5. 20th Km. (13th Mile) slip at Makha-Yangang road.
6. Kumrek slip at 3rd km. of Rangpo- Rorathang road.
7. Rayongchu slip of Dikchu – Sangkalang – Mangan road (D.S.M).
8. Salelay slip of Rabongla – Ralang road.
9. 2nd Km. slip of Nayabazar – Daramdin – Sombaria road.
10. 11th Km. slip of G.R.B.A. road.
11. 26th km. slip at Melli – Nayabazar road.

(a) BRIDGES :
The bridges along the low cost roads with low axle load supporting capacity have to be either replaced by permanent bridges with capacity to carry loads as per Standard Specifications laid down by the Indian Roads Congress or reinforced to impart higher load carrying capacity and durability. Works or replacement of existing Mamring Suspension Bridge over Teesta at Rangpo along the Major District Road Mamring – Phong, commenced last year will be continued in the Eighth Five Year plan and completed in middle of 1993. The other bridges (main ones only) which will be either replaced or reinforced in the Eighth Plan are enumerated below :

(i) Rathang Bridge (Rainforcement)
(ii) Rimbi Bridge (Replacement)
(iii) Takchamchu Bridge (Reinforcement)
(iv) Bhusuk Chu Bridge (Reinforcement )
(v) Rabi Khola Bridge (Replacement)
(vi) Ridhang Bridge (Replacement)
(vii) Goshkhan Dara Bridge (Replacement)
(viii) Lingzey Chu Bridge (Replacement)
(ix) Rongli Bridge (Replacement)
(x) Kanaka Bridge (Replacement)
(xi) Det Khola Bridge (Reinforcement )
(xii) 1 No. 7000’ span prestressed concrete bridge (Replacement)
 

Many roads constructed upto earthern formation level have to be further consolidated by taking up second phase work involving protection, drainage and macadam. A review of the status relating to coverage of the road network of the villages show that the total length of roads at the end of Eighth Plan would be 1616 Kms. which would be covering about 335 villages leaving 105 villages still without proper accessibility. It is assessed that approximately 70,000 persons would be without the benefit of connectivity with vehicular roads. The cost of transportation to and from the nearest marketing centre is much higher then those in areas where services of Sikkim Nationalised Transport are available. Apart from these, the absence of connectivity has lead to limited spread of development and welfare schemes of the Government to these areas. It is estimated that to cover all the villages in Sikkim, a total road length of 700 Km. have to be constructed as early as possible. The traffic plying over the newly constructed roads are subjected to hardship due to mud and rain water. The rate of deterioration of such newly constructed roads is much faster during the monsoon period.

I Major District Roads:
1. Rumtek – Ray- Ranka 6 Km. (part)
2. Duga – Pendam 4 Km.
3. Duga- Pacheykhani 14 Km.
4. Link road to Shipgyar 6 Km.
5. Link road to Samdong 4 km.
¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬ 34 Km.

III. Other District Roads :
1.Chakung – Khaniserbong 12 Km.
2.Sichey – Ranka 4 Km.
3. Ralang – Phamtam 8 Km
4. Rongli – Rolep 13 Km.
5.Sikkip – Wok 8 Km.
6. Geyzing – Sakyong 6 Km.
7. Pakyong – Mamring 8 Km.
8. Darap – Namboo 8 Km.
9. Rongli – Dalapchen 2 Km. (part)
10. Rayong – Tinkitam 6 km (part)
11. Sokpay – Kimboobotey 15 Km.
12. DSM- Gour 6 Km.
13. Chongrang – Khongri 16 Km.
14. SBS – Tingbong 8 Km.
15. Dikchu – Gour 6 Km.
16. Gyava – Tikjek 5 Km.
17. Link road to Zarung village 4 Km.
18. Assam – Lingzey 4 km.
19 Song- Sirwani 10 Km.
20. Reshi – Rinchenpong 26 Km.
21. Melli – Turuk – Chidam – Bhanjyang 7 Km.
182 Km.

A few important road that are still in the stage of WBM standard and which are continually under the wearing action of rain need to be carpeted. They are given below :

1. Chakung – Chumbong 4 Km.
2. Soreng – Sombaria 16 Km.
3. Legship – Tashiding 6 km.
4. Manmpur _ Sumbuk 15 Km.
5. Rayong – Tinkitam 18 km.
6. Simchuthang – Namphok – Yangang 15 Km.
7. Geyzing – Lingchom 8 Km.
8. Lingzea – Bhusuk 8 km.
9. Melli – Melli Dara 8 km.
10. Yuksom – Tashiding 20 Km.
11. Sichey Link road 2 Km.
12 Bhudang – Malbassey – Soreng 10 Km.
130 Km.

It is to explain that the proposals in the Eighth Plan consists mainly of those roads which are lying in the intermediate stages of construction. The over riding necessity to complete the remaining phases of work in such roads for preventing large scale slides during monsoon has forced us to direct the thrust in completing the remaining phases of work in 34 Km. of Major District Roads, 182 Km. in other District Roads and surfacing work in 130 km. of road. Though there is a tremendous pressure to give link roads to inaccessible villages, it is planned to construct only about 125 Km. of roads in the Eighth Plan. This 125 km. of road will be constructed upto earthern formation.

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