Unavailability of electricity at Teesta Bridge poses threat to the public and vehicles

The historic Teesta Bridge which connects Kalimpong, Darjeeling and Sikkim in recent times falls short of electricity. The bridge has now become an overnight hub for many anti social elements especially for the drug addicts. Due to this the general public now needs to think 10 times before crossing the bridge at night. The locals of the Teesta area has several times demanded for the connection of electricity on the bridge, but their pleas have fallen into deaf ears. The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) Highway Block Committee keeping in mind the safety of the public has voiced for the issue. The Committee’s Joint Secretary, Sukhbir Tamang informed that they have earlier highlighted the issue to the Darjeeling District Collector (DC) and Kalimpong Sub Divisional Officer. Despite of their assurance no such steps have been taken. 

The locals say that before there was electricity in the bridge but with time it got fused and also the electric poles are now not in a good condition for there is no maintenance at all. The locals also mentioned that taking the darkness as an opportunity many cases of loot against the public by the goons has also been reported. One of the drivers of who ferry the vehicle every day through the bridge complained that it’s hard to drive during nightfall. And at times when the vehicle’s light stops functioning then they need to wait for another vehicle to pass and with the help of the second the vehicles’ light they drive across the bridge. The President of the Janmukti Himalaya Rajmarg Sangathan, Uttam rai too demanding for the provision of electricity said that during foggy weather, it becomes difficult to either walk or drive through the bridge. Now since the monsoons are arriving, the unavailability of light o the bridge poses the threat of accidents too, he added. Hence, now it has become a must that electricity should be provided on the Teesta Bridge......mukesh sharma..