Gangtok: North Sikkim is grappling with a severe crisis as delays in road and bridge repairs are wreaking havoc on daily life, hindering economic activities, and dealing a heavy blow to the region’s crucial tourism industry. Key highways remain damaged, making travel difficult and dangerous, leaving residents, businesses, and tourists struggling to navigate the area.
The slow pace of repairs by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has caused mounting frustration among locals, many of whom rely on these roads for both essential needs and their livelihoods. Multiple bridge collapses and continuous landslides have worsened the situation, and there is a growing sense of urgency to restore connectivity before further damage is done.
Anant Jain, the Mangan District Collector, recently stated that the highways connecting Lachen and Lachung via Toong would require more time to complete. However, this delay is becoming increasingly unacceptable to local residents and business owners, who are voicing their frustrations over the slow progress. The ongoing delays are impacting their livelihoods, particularly those who rely on tourism as a primary source of income.
Tourism, which serves as the backbone of North Sikkim’s economy, has taken a severe hit due to the deteriorating condition of the roads. Popular destinations such as Lachen, Lachung, and Gurudongmar Lake have seen a drastic decline in visitors, leading to financial strain on tour operators, hoteliers, and local businesses. A local from Lachung shared, “Our entire economy depends on tourism. But if the roads are not repaired quickly, how will tourists come? The road is in such bad condition, not because of us, but because of the Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) in 2023. That disaster destroyed everything, and now we’re still suffering.”
The situation has deteriorated further in recent months, with the collapse of key bridges cutting off crucial routes and forcing travelers onto longer and more difficult detour paths. On March 14, 2025, the Dzongu Phidang Bailey Bridge in Mangan district suffered severe damage, cutting off a vital route to Lachung and Lachen. This followed the collapse of the Sankalang Bailey Bridge a month earlier, on February 11, 2025. The Sankalang Bridge, which had only been operational for a short time, fell into the Teesta River, severely affecting connectivity between Mangan and Upper Dzongu, adding an extra 90 minutes to travel time.
These back-to-back infrastructure failures have compounded the road crisis in North Sikkim, making travel almost impossible for locals, particularly those in remote areas. The situation has left many people dependent on long and unsafe detour routes, which become increasingly unreliable during heavy rain. The Mangan-Chungthang-Lachen-Lachung highway, maintained by the BRO, is critical for both the local population and the Indian Army, which requires smooth road connectivity for troop and supply transport to the borders.
BRO officials have assured the public that they are working as quickly as possible, but continuous landslides and inclement weather have slowed progress. The worst-hit area is the Tungna stretch, where entire portions of the highway have been washed away. Though repairs were initially expected to be completed by April, officials have now pushed the deadline back by one to two months due to the ongoing challenges posed by severe weather conditions and logistical difficulties.
To alleviate the situation, officials have deployed Quick Response Teams (QRTs) and additional police personnel to monitor traffic and guide travelers along alternative routes. However, these detours are not a long-term solution. The Fidang-Dzongu road, currently serving as a temporary detour, is also prone to landslides and could become completely unusable during the upcoming monsoon season.
Local authorities have held multiple meetings with disaster management teams, BRO, and other government officials to discuss the next steps, and they have pledged to provide additional resources, including heavy machinery, rescue teams, and emergency units to handle future road collapses. Yet, the mounting frustration among the people of North Sikkim continues to grow.
A local from Dzongu expressed the community’s desperation: “We are not just waiting for the roads to be built. We are praying to our gods and goddesses for help. This is a holy place, and we hope that things will get better soon. But the government and BRO need to act fast. We cannot wait forever.”
The restoration of roads and bridges in North Sikkim has now become a critical necessity. The ongoing delays are affecting thousands of lives, damaging the economy, and discouraging tourism, a key industry for the region. With two major bridge collapses in just one month and several key highways still impassable, there is a growing need for the BRO to expedite its efforts. Immediate action is required to restore normalcy, revitalize tourism, and prevent further economic losses. The government, BRO, and all relevant stakeholders must work together to complete the repairs swiftly and rebuild a stronger, safer infrastructure for the future.
Read More: Amit Shah Inaugurates Lachit Barphukan Police Academy in Assam, Emphasizes Development and Security