Naga-Toong route to North Sikkim to reopen after Dec 20

HOMNATH DABARI

GANGTOK,: The key road link from Mangan to Chungthang via Naga and Toong is set to reopen for all types of vehicles after December 20, providing major relief to residents and defence personnel deployed in the North Sikkim border region.

The route has remained closed for nearly two years following the massive Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) of 3-4 October 2023, which had completely washed away the Naga-Toong stretch.

Following the natural disaster, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has been constructing an entirely new 8-kilometre Naga-Toong road. Work began in February 2024, and officials from the construction site have confirmed that the project is nearing completion with the aim of opening the road soon after December 20.

Due to the closure of the Naga-Toong road for the past two years, people travelling to Chungthang, Lachung, Lachen and other border villages have been forced to take a long and difficult detour from Mangan - Sangkalang - Sipgyer (via Dzongu). This has significantly increased travel time and difficulties for both civilians and defence personnel. The reopening of the new Naga-Toong route is expected to drastically reduce travel distance, time, and inconvenience.

Mangan District Collector Ananta Jain confirmed that the Naga-Toong road will reopen by December 20. He stated that BRO is working tirelessly to meet the deadline, with only final blacktopping work underway.

“BRO has assured the district administration that the construction will be completed between December 15 and 20. Based on their progress, we are confident that the road will open immediately after December 20,” the DC said.

He also informed that the Chungthang-Lachen road, which has remained closed since June 2025, is expected to reopen by the end of December. Currently, locals travelling to Lachen are compelled to use the Dongkyala route via Lachung, while tourist access to Lachen remains fully suspended.

Local tourism entrepreneur Ram Kumar Darjee expressed satisfaction with the progress on the new Naga-Toong road. He highlighted that BRO workers and officials have been consistently deployed to ensure timely completion.

He said that the construction of the Ritchu Khola bridge, along with repair of landslide-hit sections and delays in land compensation for the new road alignment, had slowed progress earlier. But with all hurdles now cleared, we are hopeful the road will open from 20 December 20, he added.

Darjee believes that reopening the road will give a significant boost to North Sikkim’s tourism sector. At present, tourists travelling from Mangan to Lachung and other areas have to stay two nights in North Sikkim due to the lengthy detour. Once the new road opens, travel time will reduce, making trips more convenient and likely increasing tourist inflow. He added that opening the Chungthang-Lachen road will help revive tourism to its previous levels.

According to BRO officials, around 240 workers, mostly from landslide-affected families of the Naga–Toong area, are engaged daily in the construction work. Officials noted that these workers are well adapted to local climatic conditions and have been working efficiently.

After the GLOF-induced destruction of the main road, the Sikkim government’s Roads & Bridges department had temporarily restored the old alignment in 2024. However, recurring landslides prevented it from becoming a permanent solution.

Roads & Bridges minister N.B. Dahal has been regularly visiting the affected stretch and directing BRO to expedite the new road construction. With the upcoming opening of the fully reconstructed 8-km Naga-Toong road, officials say the people of North Sikkim will soon experience major improvements in connectivity.

The new road is expected to restore normal movement of vehicles and significantly ease travel to border villages such as Chungthang, Lachung, and Lachen, marking a crucial step in rebuilding North Sikkim’s transport and tourism sectors.