Darjeeling, July 6 -- Want to know whether National Highway 10 (NH10), notorious for frequent landslides and rockfalls, is open to traffic? Commuters can now access real-time updates at their fingertips. The Kalimpong Police on Tuesday launched the NH10 Status App with the tagline, "Smooth Safar Shuru."
NH10 connects Sikkim's capital, Gangtok, with the plains of Siliguri in West Bengal and is widely regarded as the lifeline of the Himalayan state. The 174-km highway comprises approximately 79 km in West Bengal and 95 km in Sikkim. The route is highly vulnerable to landslides and rockfalls, particularly during the monsoon, often resulting in traffic disruptions and prolonged closures. It also serves as the primary road link between Kalimpong and Siliguri.
"Keeping in mind the regular inconvenience faced by commuters on NH10, mainly due to the lack of credible information regarding the traffic status on this highway, the app has been developed and launched on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee. We believe that if commuters have real-time information about road conditions, they will be able to make informed decisions regarding the timing and route of their journey," Kalimpong Superintendent of Police Aparajita Rai told Millennium Post.
Elaborating on the initiative, Bishal Sarkar, Deputy Superintendent of Police (Traffic), Kalimpong, said the app is available for download on major app stores.
"This app will be of immense help to commuters by providing real-time information on road closures, diversions and single-lane traffic. Users will receive regular updates. Police personnel posted along the route, along with officers of Riang Police Station and the Melli and Rongpo outposts, will continuously update the traffic status," Sarkar said.
At present, the app provides information for the stretch between Atal Bridge and Seti Jhora, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Kalimpong Police.
"If the response is encouraging, we will coordinate with our counterparts in Sikkim to provide updates for the entire stretch of NH10," the DSP added.
The initiative has been widely welcomed, particularly by frequent commuters and members of the travel and tourism industry.
"Given the rapidly changing condition of NH10, especially the Rangpo-Coronation Bridge stretch during the monsoon, and the heavy volume of traffic, this is a long-awaited initiative for ensuring the safety of all road users. We extend our gratitude to the Kalimpong Police. We also hope that the Rangpo-Gangtok stretch in Sikkim and the Seti Jhora-Sevoke (Kurseong) section are brought under the app in future," said Prafulla Rao of Save the Hills, an organisation working on landslide-related issues.
"This initiative will certainly enhance the safety of all commuters travelling on NH10," said taxi operator Chandra Kumar Biswakarma.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.