The Centre has sanctioned Rs 1,175.59 crore for the construction of a six-lane bridge with approaches across the Teesta river at Sevoke in West Bengal's Darjeeling district, giving the go-ahead to a long-pending alternative crossing aimed at strengthening connectivity between the Siliguri Corridor, Sikkim and the northeastern states.
Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari announced the approval for the 6.91-km project on NH-10, formerly NH-31. The bridge and its approaches will be developed under the National Highways network and are expected to ease pressure on the historic Coronation Bridge, which currently carries a substantial volume of traffic moving towards Sikkim and parts of the Northeast.
Alternative to Coronation Bridge
The existing Coronation Bridge, locally known as Bagh Pool, is located about 2 km upstream of the site identified for the new crossing. Built in 1941, the bridge has for decades served as a crucial road connection across the Teesta.
The new project will provide an alternative to the existing route and increase road capacity at a critical point in the regional transport network. At present, a railway bridge exists close to the location where the alternative road bridge has been proposed.
The new bridge is also expected to reduce the road distance between Sevoke in Darjeeling district and Ellenbari in Jalpaiguri district by around 10 km. This could provide a more direct connection for traffic moving through the region.
Sikkim, Northeast links in focus
The project assumes significance because of Sevoke's location near the Siliguri Corridor, the narrow geographical link connecting mainland India with the northeastern states.
Gadkari said the proposed bridge would strengthen connectivity between Sikkim, the northeastern states and the Siliguri Corridor and facilitate smoother movement of passengers and freight.
The improved road infrastructure is also expected to reduce travel time and congestion and improve the efficiency of movement of goods and services. The Centre expects the project to support trade, tourism, logistics and wider economic activity in the region.
NH-10 is an important road connection towards Sikkim, while the network around Sevoke also carries traffic bound for the Dooars and other parts of North Bengal and the Northeast.
Existing route faces bottlenecks
Vehicles travelling between Siliguri and Sikkim and those moving towards parts of the Northeast currently depend heavily on the existing crossing and connecting highways.
The route through the Coronation Bridge area has sections vulnerable to landslides and accidents, while increasing passenger and freight movement has added to congestion.
These constraints become particularly significant during disruptions caused by heavy rainfall and landslides in the Teesta valley, when road connectivity to Sikkim and surrounding areas can be affected.
A high-capacity alternative crossing is therefore expected to provide additional resilience to the transport network while easing the burden on the older bridge.
Earlier tender was cancelled
The bridge project has been under consideration for years. An earlier proposal had involved a project cost of about Rs 844 crore and a tender was floated for construction, but that tender was subsequently cancelled.
Government procurement records show that a tender published in January 2026 had estimated the civil works at around Rs 840.29 crore and envisaged construction of an additional major bridge and its approaches across the Teesta at Sevoke.
The latest approval raises the sanctioned project cost to Rs 1,175.59 crore and covers a six-lane bridge and approaches extending 6.91 km.
Demand dates back decades
The demand for an alternative bridge across the Teesta near Sevoke is not new. Proposals for another crossing were discussed as far back as the early 1990s, when the West Bengal Public Works Department conducted soil tests, though the project did not progress.
The issue was again raised in Parliament in December 2009 by then CPI(M) Rajya Sabha MP Saman Pathak. Discussions were subsequently held with government representatives, but the proposed crossing remained pending.
Residents and organisations in the Dooars have continued to press for another bridge, arguing that dependence on the Coronation Bridge created a bottleneck for communities, tourism and commercial traffic across North Bengal.
The Dooars region has hundreds of tea gardens and major wildlife destinations, making road connectivity important not only for residents but also for tourism and movement of agricultural and industrial goods.
Strategic corridor gets boost
Apart from its economic significance, the proposed crossing is important because of its proximity to the Siliguri Corridor. The narrow corridor carries road and rail links connecting the northeastern states with the rest of India.
An additional bridge across the Teesta would provide greater capacity and redundancy in a transport network where disruption at a single point can have wider consequences for passenger and freight movement.
Once completed, the project is expected to offer a shorter and higher-capacity alternative to the existing route, reduce pressure on the Coronation Bridge and improve connectivity across North Bengal.
The sanction brings a decades-old proposal closer to implementation, with the new crossing set to become a major piece of road infrastructure linking the Siliguri region with Sikkim and the Northeast.