SIKKIM - STATE ANNUAL PLAN 2001-2002ROADS & BRIDGESDEMAND NO. 351. INTRODUCTION a. All the transportation of goods and passengers of the State is through road transportation, The state is land locked and bounded by, foreign countries except in the South where it is bordered by Darjeeling District of West Bengal. A helicopter flight once a day from Gangtok to Bagdogra and back, caters the needs of a very small fraction of passengers. Unlike in other states there is no Railways. Airways, to share the responsibility of transportation of goods and passengers. Therefore, the road network is the primary infrastructure, for the development of the State and Welfare of the citizens. The terrain of the State and the climatic condition, render the road network vulnerable to perpetual slides at one point or other. There are also, due to same reasons, a number of streams and rivulets crossing the road necessitating a large number of cross over like bridges, culverts etc. The result is the high cost of construction and maintenance. b. To understand the type of activities, the Road Sector has been undertaking in the past few Plans, it is necessary to go back to the methodology of road construction followed in the first Seven Year Plan and subsequent three Five Year Plans. c. When the Development Plans were launched in Sikkim too, in very modest way, there were no vehicular road in Sikkim except the Rangpo-Gangtok road (which too was narrow) and a few kilometres of road around Gangtok. The main towns were connected with mule track, whereon, jeeps used to ply with great difficulty. d. With the modest investment available at that time and with a view to cover as many areas as possible the need of the hour was to construct low cost roads which were fit for smaller vehicles. This meant construction of narrow roads with steeper gradient than that of present road and construction bridges of lower tonnage capacity. e. With the steep increase in the volume of passengers and goods in subsequent years the need to operate heavier vehicles arose. (a) therefore the low cost road already constructed needed widening, giving protection works to them, surfacing and finally carpeting. The works under this activity are categorised under "Removal of Deficiencies." (b) There was need to replace the old bridges, culverts or causeways existing along these low cost roads with higher axle load bearing bridges and culverts. (c) The works under this activity are categorised under the head "Replacement". 1. The construction of new roads, from the Fifth Five Year Plans, were undertaken keeping the specifications in consonance with the roads prevalent in the other hilly parts of the country. It meant the road constructed are wider with negotiable gradient for the heavy axle load vehicles and bridges of higher axle load bearing capacity. The sequence of construction, however, is (i) formation cutting (ii) providing protection walls, and water bound macadam surface and finally (iii) carpeting. These works under this category are categorised under "Expansion". Many of these new roads take in hand still remain to be carpeted. Some of these roads completed upto the earthen formation in recent past have to be provided with WBM base, protection and proper drainage. Some of the roads which were carpeted years back have their surface weakened due to the movement of heavy vehicles and constant rainfall. The earthen roads need to be brought to the WBM level and then carpeting undertaken thereon. The roads which are in WBM level need to be carpeted. The old carpeted road specially those which are important roads having higher density of traffic, tourist importance etc. are proposed to be resurfaced. The drainage is not only the ornaments of the road but also is the guard against potholes and wear tear from water logging. Therefore, the proper drainage of the roads are considered an important element while framing the estimates for surface strengthening. 2. A total outlay of Rs 2808 lakhs has been allocated during 2001-2002 for Roads & Bridges Department. The Sub head wise proposal are as under: A. DIRECTION AND ADMINISTRATION Rs 105.50 lakhs a. Revenue-3054-80-001 (1) & 004 Rs 105.50 lakhs The above outlay is required to cover the establishment overhead on the infrastructure and manpower required for the Planning and implementation of the Plan Projects. b. RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT Rs 1.50 lakhs Revenue-3054-80-001(1) & 004 Rs 1.50 lakhs The allocated outlay is intended to cover to the cover the cost for carrying out Survey and investigation works and payment of contribution to Indian Roads Congress. Bringing in new elements in the suspension bridges to improvement and upgradation of the suspenses bridges will be covered under this head. B. Removal of Deficiencies Rs 400.00 lakhs Capital-5054-04-337-6-760062 Rs 400.00 lakhs This scheme essentially comprises three components viz. upgradation and strengthening of roads, protection and slope treatment and development of drainage system in different Roads. The roads which have deficient width, deficient surface, unstable slope and deficient drainage would be covered under this Sub Head for upgradation. Following schemes commenced in the year 2000-01 are under progress in 2001-02.
Capital: 5054-04-337-76-760064 Rs 360.00 lakhs Under this scheme new roads are constructed to provide connectivity to remote villages. The nature of activities involved includes road cutting, construction of cross drainage works wherever required, slopes stabilisation, WBM measures and development of drainage system followed by the final stage carpeting. There are some roads which are constructed upto the earthen level under this activity and which need to be taken forward upto WBM level, There are also some roads which are completed upto WBM standard which need to be completed. The bridges in the roads constructed under this programme need to be laid. All these programmes are included under the head. Following schemes commenced in the year 2000-2001 are under progress in this year 2001-2002.
D. REPLACEMENT Rs 50.00 lakhs Capital: 5054-04-337-76-760063 Rs 50.00 lakhs Under this head weak bridges are proposed to be replaced by bridges capable to sustain vehicular load heavy axle loads. Also temporary bridges are proposed to be made to permanent bridges. The weak pavements are proposed to strengthen under this programme. Schemes commenced in the year 2000-2001 are under progress in this year
E. ADDITIONAL FACILITIES Rs 31.00 lakhs Capital head: 5054-04-337-(1)5 Rs 31.00 lakhs Under this caption, development of supporting infrastructure such as storage facilities mobile, huts and back ups facilities for the mechanical workers to provide camping facility at the site of the construction far away from settlement would be covered under this head. F. MACHINERIES AND EQUIPMENT Rs 130.00 lakhs Capital head: 5054-04-337-80-052 Rs 130.00 lakhs The above allocation has been kept essentially to augment the Department’s fleet of Machineries comprising bulldozers, read rollers. Road machinery such as Bulldozer, loaders etc. are required for new construction of read and to maintain only mode of transportation and communication function smoothly. The existing bulldozers of the department are far less than the actual requirement and also most of them are quite old. Keeping in view of the overall financial aspects it has been proposed to replace one oldest bulldozer by a new one during 2001-2002. Excavator cum loader is found very useful especially during monsoon to clear road blockage due to minor land slides. Since the machine is tyre mounted its mobility from one place to another is easy without damaging the carpeted roads. At present we have one such machine under North/East Division and hence it is proposed to procure one more for South/West Division. Since most of the existing bulldozers are old and need updating and renovation replacement of some major parts especially in the under carriage system is very essential. The renovation of these bulldozers will enhance the Capital value of the Bulldozers. There are also other machineries like wheel loaders, road rollers which are also of old age and they need to be upgraded by way of major repairs. Provision for this has also been kept.
(G) PRADHAN MANTRI GRAM SADAK YOJANA Capital Head Rs 1600.00 lakhs On 15th August 2000, the Prime Minister announced the scheme called Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, to give rural connectivity to all the villages. In this scheme it has been directed that all the villages having population of more than 500 should be connected by 2007. Under this head of scheme, the department has proposed the upgradation of its existing roads. The following works are under progress in the year 2001-2002.
H. NABARD: Rs 100.00 lakhs Capital Head 5054-04-337-76-760070 Rs 100.00 lakhs In addition to above, following schemes are under progress
Restoration of damaged roads/ drainage system and for deployment of road machineries including hiring of casual gang etc. ABSTRACT
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||