YOWAN MOTHAY, EOI, KALIMPONG, MAY 5/–/ Drivers and common people of Kalimpong alike are faced with a number of problems due to the announced closure of National Highway 10 from Ravi Jhoda to 29th Mile from May 6 to May 9. Due to the closure of the road during the height of the tourist season, tourists, too, are facing problems.
The Kalimpong District Drivers’ Federation has objected to the repeated closure of National Highway 10.The highway was closed also in March and April intermittently. Association President Mahendra Gurung has alleged that the authorities are taking the problems of the lifeline of Sikkim and Kalimpong casually. If such repeated closures of National Highway 10 continue, drivers will come out on the road in protest at any time.
He has demanded that the administration as well as political leaders take drivers as well as common people seriously. Sick people who need to travel to Siliguri for treatment and traders are also affected by the frequent closure of NH 10. Even after paying road tax to the government in lakhs of rupees and ensuring the safety of passengers, the drivers are suffering because of the repeated closure of the National Highway, he has said.