<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style","serif"">GANGTOK, :</span></b><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style","serif"">
The long-awaited Ranipool taxi stand redevelopment project under the Sikkim
Integrated Urban Development Project (SIUDP) is set to begin this September,
with the Urban Development Department (UDD) stating that construction will
commence across project sites following the end of the monsoon-related
excavation restriction.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style","serif"">While
visiting the site at Ranipool taxi stand today, Urban Development commissioner
and secretary Jitendra Singh Raje said the Ranipool project, estimated at Rs
128.73 crore, is part of the larger SIUDP, an approximately Rs 2,000-crore
initiative of the State government aimed at improving urban infrastructure
across the State. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style","serif"">Under
SIUDP, around seven transit hubs with commercial complexes are being taken up
along with sewerage, sanitation and water supply projects in various towns.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style","serif"">According
to Raje, the Ranipool transit hub will comprise a seven-storey parking facility
spread over approximately 19,485 square metres. The facility will accommodate
around 201 four-wheelers and 46 heavy vehicles.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style","serif"">The
project will also include commercial shops, cafeteria, public amenities and
electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style","serif"">“The
main issue here has been the long-standing taxi stand problem. It was a very
congested taxi stand and there was not even proper space to park taxis. Keeping
this in mind, under the directions of the State government, the Urban
Development Department started this project,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style","serif"">Raje
said the project is being funded through a loan from the Asian Development Bank
(ADB), with the loan agreement signed in December 2023 and funds released by
the ADB in May 2026.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style","serif"">He
explained that projects funded through multilateral financial institutions are
required to comply with several conditions before construction can begin.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style","serif"">“Everyone
should understand that for any project we fund through financial institutions,
we have to abide by their conditions. Whether it is a bank or any other
financial institution, we have to comply with whatever conditions they set,” he
said.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style","serif"">Following
the loan agreement, an ADB mission team conducted site visits and directed that
all project sites be properly barricaded and secured before construction. Raje
said the measure was necessary for public safety and to ensure clear access for
contractors.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style","serif"">Addressing
concerns over the alleged delay or stalling of the project, Raje said there had
been no such delay, and that the project had been progressing through the
required procedures.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style","serif"">He
pointed out that the UDD had prohibited excavation work from May 1 to August 31
in view of the monsoon and public safety concerns.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style","serif"">“Now
that the rainy season is over and the notification period has ended, work
across all the sites will commence starting this September,” Raje said.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style","serif"">He
added that the project involved several procedural requirements, including
environmental clearances, resettlement-related measures and arrangements for
sewerage treatment facilities.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style","serif"">Raje
further said that, anticipating the parking difficulties at Ranipool during
construction, the department had coordinated with the Traffic Police and
identified an alternative parking facility near New Road, Marchak.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style","serif"">“Seeing
the specific challenges in Ranipool, back in December itself we coordinated
with the Traffic Police and arranged an alternative parking facility near New
Road, Marchak, where people can park. The Traffic Department has already
cleared this,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style","serif"">He
acknowledged that construction of a project of this scale could cause temporary
inconvenience to the public but said the long-term objective was to address
parking and mobility issues in Ranipool and other towns.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style","serif"">“During
development, there may be slight temporary inconveniences because constructing
a project of this scale takes time. But once this major project is complete,
Ranipool's parking issues will be resolved,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style","serif"">The
Ranipool project is among several urban infrastructure projects being developed
under SIUDP, with similar parking facilities planned at Tadong, Singtam,
Pakyong, Soreng and Gyalshing.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style","serif"">Raje
described the initiative as a “model and future-ready project”, stating that
the infrastructure would go beyond parking and include commercial facilities
and EV infrastructure.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style","serif"">He
also said the Ranipool complex has been planned with future connectivity in
mind, including the proposed integration of a ropeway station.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style","serif"">“A
major cable car station will also be integrated into this complex. Planning
takes time because we have to ensure public safety and assess the geo-stability
of the area. Once the cable car is operational in the future, it will integrate
directly into this parking complex,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style","serif"">Raje
urged the public not to rely on rumours regarding the status of the project and
said the department had been providing updates on the project through press
releases and press conferences.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style","serif"">“Our
effort is to ensure that the public receives direct and accurate information
about the work being done,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style","serif"">He
stated that the overall SIUDP project has a seven-year timeline, with
construction expected to be completed within three years and the remaining four
years allocated for operation and maintenance.</span></p>
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