GANGTOK: A vital step towards restoring connectivity between Namchi District and Gangtok District has been taken with the commencement of traffic movement on the deck slab of the Teesta Stage 6 Dam Barrage, situated in Namchi District.
The Superintendent of Police in Gangtok and Namchi issued an order outlining regulations and diversions for the newly accessible route. Traffic is permitted on the barrage's deck slab during specific hours, from 9 PM to 9 AM and from 1 PM to 2 PM. The bridge will remain closed during other time slots, including 9 AM to 1 PM, 2 PM to 5 PM, 5 PM to 7 PM, and 7 PM to 9 PM.
Namchi District Collector, M. Bharani Kumar, provided insight into the significance of this development, saying, "The entire area was disconnected after the flash floods on October 4. This is a temporary bridge on top of the barrage deck of the Teesta Stage 6 project. The barrage deck will cater to all the LMV movement from Gangtok to Namchi. A permanent bridge will be constructed parallel to this barrage deck, which will be operational in 4 months' time. Heavy vehicles are not allowed on the barrage deck." He urged the general public to adhere to the prescribed timings for using the deck slab.
Kumar also informed that NHPC would be installing a bailey bridge at Sirwani, which would take about four months to complete, ensuring uninterrupted vehicle movement between Gangtok and Namchi District until the permanent bridge is operational.
Prior to this development, the Indian Army, in collaboration with the Border Road Organization and civil administration, successfully erected the second Bailey bridge over the Teesta River at Mangan-Sankalang. The Indian Army's Trishakti Corps lauded their engineers for completing the bridge in just four days.
The completed second bridge has played a pivotal role in enabling the movement of vehicles and facilitating the distribution of relief materials to the areas affected by the recent floods.
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