<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>SINGTAM,:</b><span style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style",serif">
Highlighting the Centre’s ongoing infrastructure projects aimed at improving
connectivity to Sikkim and the Northeast, newly appointed BJP Sikkim State
in-charge and Darjeeling MP Raju Bista said the railway projects passing
through Darjeeling would primarily benefit Sikkim by providing an additional
and more reliable mode of connectivity.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style",serif">Bista
said the Centre was investing heavily in road and railway infrastructure in the
region and cited several projects being undertaken along the Siliguri, Sevoke
and Sikkim corridor.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style",serif">“Today,
IRCON is spending Rs 15,000 crores on railway projects and while the train
tracks pass over Darjeeling's land, the primary beneficiary and rights holder
of this connectivity will be Sikkim,” Bista said on Monday.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style",serif">He
said the development of multiple alternative routes was intended to ease the
longstanding dependence on NH1 0, which is the principal road link between
Sikkim and the plains.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style",serif">Bista
said NH 10, which has frequently remained vulnerable to landslides and
disruptions, had seen a significant improvement this year.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style",serif">“NH
10 used to stay closed for a month every year. This time it was closed for just
a day or two, and by March, NH 10 will be 100% operational,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style",serif">He
also highlighted the construction of an alternative highway for Sikkim, stating
that Highway 717A had already been constructed with central funding of Rs 3,600
crore.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style",serif">On
the Siliguri side, Bista said the road infrastructure between Balasun and
Sevoke was also being upgraded to ease congestion and improve the movement of
vehicles heading towards Sikkim and Darjeeling.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style",serif">“Today,
ropeways are being built in Sikkim, and five ropeways are being built in
Darjeeling. An alternative highway is being constructed for Darjeeling too.
Look at the commute to Siliguri now, how difficult the traffic used to be. Now,
from Balasun to Sevoke, a smooth road is almost ready, and 100% of the work on
that stretch will be completed soon,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style",serif">He
said the improvement of the road network would help address traffic congestion
in Darjeeling and the surrounding areas.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style",serif">“The
major traffic issues in Darjeeling will also end within a year,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style",serif">Bista
further spoke about a new road project from Sevoke, stating that a 14 kilometre
road was being constructed, including a seven kilometre four lane elevated
section.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style",serif">He
also referred to the proposed new bridge at the site of the Coronation Bridge,
stating that a tender worth Rs 1,175 crore had been sanctioned for the project.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style",serif">He
said the new infrastructure would provide travellers heading towards Sikkim
with multiple route options.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style",serif">“When
travelling to Sikkim, you can choose Highway 717A or take NH 10,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style",serif">Bista
also referred to a recently announced large scale road project connecting
Siliguri with Guwahati and Shillong, putting the value of the project at Rs 61,000
crore.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style",serif">“Just
a week ago, a Rs 61,000 crore road project connecting Siliguri to Guwahati and
Shillong was announced,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style",serif">He
said such projects, together with the railway expansion, would significantly
improve connectivity across the region.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style",serif">The
BJP leader also stressed the importance of the railway projects being
implemented in the region, particularly in the context of Sikkim’s long
standing demand for improved rail connectivity.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style",serif">He
said the BJP workers in Sikkim should communicate these developments to people
and ensure that the benefits of Central and State government schemes and
projects reach households across the State.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style",serif">“Look
around today, wherever you go, there is a BJP organisation structure. Schemes
and governments are working with complete transparency. So, we also want all
the benefits and facilities from both the Central and State governments to
reach the public in Sikkim,” Bista said.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style",serif">He
said BJP workers should not measure their contribution only through individual
financial assistance or personal intervention but should focus on making people
aware of the various schemes launched by the Modi government.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style",serif">“PM
Modi has introduced countless schemes for the entire nation. Just understand
those schemes clearly and work to deliver them door to door to every household.
That alone is your main responsibility,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style",serif">Bista
also said that the BJP’s organisational activities in Sikkim were not aimed at
destabilising the State government.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style",serif">“We
are not building a strong Bharatiya Janata Party in Sikkim just to send our own
president to Delhi. Strengthening the BJP in Sikkim does not mean we are here
to overturn the State government,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style",serif">He
said the BJP’s activities were driven by its stated commitment to the people
and development of Sikkim.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p>
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