Mirik News - Govt treads cautiously on Mirik Road - Rs 20 lakh for ‘new’ route repair

Siliguri, Dec. 7: The state government has sanctioned Rs 20 lakh for the repair of a stretch on Mirik Road, which will bear the entire brunt of traffic to the hills from today.

The number of Darjeeling-bound vehicles travelling through Mirik is expected to increase three times with the diversion from the Rohini route. Usually 200 vehicles take this route daily and 500 more taxis joined the Mirik Road traffic today.

The funds sanction is an indication that the problems of hill roads are far from ending and the government, already under flak for the damaged Rohini Road and NH55, does not want the Mirik route to pose a new hazard. With 500 taxis bound for the hills deciding to avoid Rohini Road till it was repaired, traffic pressure is expected to increase on Mirik Road whose one stretch — Mirik to Gayabari tea estate — has suffered some damage. The black top has come off at most places on this 15-km stretch, prompting the government to sanction funds in a hurry.

Since morning, taxis from Siliguri, New Jalpaiguri Station and Bagdogra airport started taking the Mirik route. Each passenger had to shell out additional Rs 40–Rs 50 and most accused the government of negligence.

Taxi drivers had always preferred the Rohini Road because it was the shortest route. But it had been reduced to a risky dirt road, prompting drivers to go on strike yesterday. The strike was withdrawn after the district authorities raised the taxi fare by Rs 40 so that they could ply on the lengthier Mirik Road. Besides, the National Highway 55 or Hill Cart Road has been shut for the past one-and-a-half years.

“We have to bear this extra cost for sheer negligence of the government. The Rohini Road was good for all uphill vehicles, light or heavy, since the shutdown of NH55. Now, its condition has worsened. The administration instead of repairing it fast, went for an alternative. We are keeping our fingers crossed on the Mirik Road. We hope it does not suffer damage before other roads are repaired or else, we would have to travel through Kalimpong or Mungpoo (which takes around five hours),” said Kumar Rana, a resident of Darjeeling before boarding a hill-bound taxi from Darjeeling More here. While coming downhill, all light vehicles prefer the Pankhabari Road.

Taxi owners and drivers had said it was not possible to take the circuitous route through Mirik unless the fare was increased from the earlier Rs 100 per person.

“There would be more fuel consumption and the vehicle maintenance charges would increase. Most passengers are co-operative, they have understood our helplessness,” said Bhaskar Majumdar, who runs a taxi syndicate in Siliguri Junction.

Drivers said the number of vehicles that would ply on the Mirik route would be triple from today. “Usually, around 200 vehicles ply on the route and from today, an additional 500 vehicles are taking the route. Added to these there are the private cars,” said Sabin Thapa, secretary of the Terai Chalak Sangathan which along with the Darjeeling Siliguri taxi Drivers’ Welfare Association had called the strike.

North Bengal development minister Gautam Deb said the government’s priority was to repair both Rohini Road and NH55 on an emergency basis.

“Expression of interest was sought from construction agencies and on December 15, proposals would be opened for finalising the agency. A sum of Rs 20 lakh has been sanctioned for repairing the Mirik-Gayabari stretch on the Siliguri-Mirik route,” the minister said. “Regarding NH55, we have spoken to the Union minister of transport and roadways, asking for funds as the road has suffered multiple damage in Paglajhora and Tindharia.”

PWD minister Subrata Bakshi will visit Siliguri on December 20-21 to assess the situation and is likely to make some announcements, Deb said.

Officials of the NH division-IX of the PWD department said the LEA Associates of South Asia Private Limited (LASA), a consultant firm, had been appointed by the Centre to prepare a detailed report on NH55.

“The agency is preparing a report on the basis of a study conducted by us last month. It is expected to submit the report to the ministry by December 15,” said Nirmal Mondal, executive engineer of the NH division.

-The Telegraph