Raksha Rajya Mantri Sanjay Seth inaugurated the Chungthang–Lachen axis and a 400-foot Bailey Suspension Taram Chu Bridge in North Sikkim, marking a significant milestone in the region’s post-disaster infrastructure restoration led by the Border Roads Organisation.
The newly restored 28-kilometre Chungthang–Lachen road and the strategically vital Taram Chu Bridge form a crucial part of efforts to rebuild connectivity severely disrupted by successive natural calamities, including the Glacial Lake Outburst Flood in October 2023, Cyclone Remal in June 2024, and devastating cloudbursts during May and June 2025.
The restoration work was executed under Project Swastik. To re-establish critical lines of communication in the high-altitude and landslide-prone terrain, the Border Roads Organisation cleared 96 landslides, constructed four major bridges, and repaired two additional bridges. Engineering teams undertook eight kilometres of fresh formation cutting and created multiple diversions to safely navigate unstable slopes and sinking zones that had rendered earlier routes unsafe.
These works followed the reopening of the 7.5-kilometre Naga–Toong stretch in October 2025, which had already restored partial connectivity in the region. With the completion of the Chungthang–Lachen axis and the Taram Chu Bridge, road access in North Sikkim has been substantially strengthened, improving mobility for local residents, facilitating the movement of security agencies, and supporting regional economic activities, including tourism and local trade.
Speaking on the occasion, Sanjay Seth described the assets as pivotal for the infrastructure development of North Sikkim and the well-being of its people. He acknowledged the sustained efforts of the Border Roads Organisation in operating under challenging terrain and weather conditions to restore and enhance connectivity in the strategically sensitive border region.
The inauguration aligns with the Atmanirbhar Sikkim Viksit Bharat Vision articulated by the Chief Minister of Sikkim, underscoring a broader commitment to resilient infrastructure, disaster recovery preparedness and inclusive development in frontier states.
The completion of these projects reinforces the importance of robust border infrastructure in ensuring both national security and socio-economic stability in vulnerable Himalayan regions.
