[NaXal]

Hello,

Just for a heads up for people planning their holidays in Sikkim.

As per local media reports, it seems State Govt. of Sikkim is putting a ban on Home Stays, effectively making it illegal to rent or lease personal properties.



Thanks.

[ABHI_1512]

Originally Posted by NaXal

As per local media reports, it seems State Govt. of Sikkim is putting a ban on Home Stays, effectively making it illegal to rent or lease personal properties.

Unrelated to the thread but replying nevertheless. The notification, as per my understanding, doesn’t ban the homestays at all. It only says that leasing or renting the homestay to any third party is not allowed, which is fair. Home stays are meant to lift and augment the income of a certain group of people while boosting tourism. More often than not, the home stay owners also get some kind of support from the government as well. The decision looks to stop the misuse of the incentives provided to the home stay owners I guess !!

[DrRC83]

Hello,

Another good news for fellow BHPians - The coo........ooo.....nti...nu..o..u.....s work of Kishanganj flyover finally came to end and the new flyover has been opened. I drove from Chanchal to Kalimpong on 10th September night and the previous stretch of potholed road is suddenly gone. During the onward journey on 6th night the flyover was still closed, but on return journey suddenly noticed that no diversion has to be taken after the Kishanganj Station and the straight lane is hitting the new flyover.

Along with that a bad news also follows that the road condition of NH 31 from Dalkhola to Siliguri degraded grossly. The Dalkhola to Kishanganj portion is very bad and 50-60 km speed may seem far fetched, though I am a regular driver of this stretch. Kishanganj to Islampur has some potholes and one has to be very cautious to avoid damage to the car to keep 60 kmph speed. Islampur to Siliguri stretch is still on the better side and apart from some pothole and rough patches around Chopra and Sonapur most of the road condition is good.

Happy driving to all my friends.

[Debnjai]

Originally Posted by NaXal

Hello,

Just for a heads up for people planning their holidays in Sikkim.

As per local media reports, it seems State Govt. of Sikkim is putting a ban on Home Stays, effectively making it illegal to rent or lease personal properties.

Attachment 2502550

Thanks.

In my understanding the ban is on Homestay owners from leasing out their homestays to third party operators making it mandatory for them to run the homestays themselves. I don't think the ban is on Homestays per se.

[arjab]

What I hear is that the Baharampore Bypass will be "temporarily opened" between Oct 14 - Oct 30. Basically to tide over the Durga Puja rush. Subsequently it may be closed and re-opened on a need basis. Apparently the target to open the bypass "fully" end January 2024. It is expected by that time both, up and down lanes of the bridge over the River Bhagirathi, will be completed.

Watching this game of musical chairs unfold.

[DrRC83]

Good morning friends ,

In view of recent flood flush at the river Teesta the NH-10 has been obliterated at several places. To accommodate the communications of the Sikkim the following traffic routes has been established. Hope you will find it useful.

[MobileThunder]

Friends- Planning a Kolkata - Darjeeling drive, a couple of days from now- in my Jimny for the New year. I am a solo driver. Would request for suggestions on route to take.

[NaXal]

Hello,

Originally Posted by MobileThunder

Friends- Planning a Kolkata - Darjeeling drive, a couple of days from now- in my Jimny for the New year. I am a solo driver. Would request for suggestions on route to take.

Personal Suggestion,

Kolkata - Barasat - Ranaghat - Krisnanagar - Berhampore - Malda - Dalkhola - Islampur - Siliguri - Rohini - Hillcart road - Kurseong - Ghum - Darjeeling

Expect single lane bad patch of around 25kms between Barasat to Ranaghat & few under construction spots between Ranaghat to Krishanagar. Otherwise, I can do this route easily in single day (Day light to Day Light) with Hatch or Sedan Class vehicles. However being winter, you may have to start late night to make up for the fog & early sunset

Refer here -> https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/route...ml#post5548380 (Kolkata - Siliguri route via Dumka, Bhagalpur or NH-12 (old NH-34))

Berhampore bypass is operational but last time, a month ago, google maps were having trouble finding it so beware of that.

Thanks.

[MobileThunder]

Thanks NaXal for the trip suggestion. Suddenly...out of the blue - the plan changed and this trip became a Jyotirlinga trip...covering Deoghar, Banaras, Ujjain, Omkareshwar, Nashik, Bhimashankar, Shirdi, and Grishneswar, and going back to Hyderabad.

I will do this trip in April, when I get my next set of holidays.

[rahul4640]

Originally Posted by NaXal

Berhampore bypass is operational but last time, a month ago, google maps were having trouble finding it so beware of that.

Crossed the new bridge at Berhampur (both way) day before yesterday. No need to worry, just stick to the main highway and it will take you across the bridge. With proper markings present, google map possibly not needed at all.

I could see that the second bridge is also in advanced stage of completion. Now the other bridge also properly joins both sides of the river. Possibly six or seven vehicles of different types are parked on the bridge, including a large crane. With dozens of men working atop the bridge, it seemed to me that the second bridge should be completed very soon and we should soon have two separate bridges for going and coming back.

[ask99]

Try and avoid Ranaghat during the morning hours. Spent an hour and a half between 8:30 AM and 9:50 AM covering 30kms before and up to Ranaghat crossing. Multiple diversions and stretches of road works going on for nee flyovers. Rest of the stretch was mostly good roads.

[brownianmotion]

Today Sat 10th Mar while coming from Baharampur I found 2 major developments- a) both the flanks of Krishnanagar pwd crossing flyover is open b) Krishnanagar bound flank of Ranaghat 55 rail gate RoB is open to traffic. Hopefully all structures of Ranaghat and one flank of RoB at Raiganj gets completed in 1-2 months time

[arjab]

Any update on the Raigunj bypass being open to traffic? Apparently one flank is ready for use but not opened to public as it is awaiting "ribbon-cutting" from our "netas"?
Heard that Ranaghat level crossing flyover has been completed and open to traffic. Is that true?

[ABHI_1512]

Originally Posted by arjab

Any update on the Raigunj bypass being open to traffic? Apparently one flank is ready for use but not opened to public as it is awaiting "ribbon-cutting" from our "netas"?
Heard that Ranaghat level crossing flyover has been completed and open to traffic. Is that true?

Ranaghat flyover is operational and open to traffic. Raigunj bypass is scheduled to be open towards the Siliguri side soon enough. Will be in a better position to talk about the bypass next week.

[gmhossain]

Originally Posted by arjab

Any update on the Raigunj bypass being open to traffic? Apparently one flank is ready for use but not opened to public as it is awaiting "ribbon-cutting" from our "netas"? Heard that Ranaghat level crossing flyover has been completed and open to traffic. Is that true?

Originally Posted by ABHI_1512

Ranaghat flyover is operational and open to traffic. Raigunj bypass is scheduled to be open towards the Siliguri side soon enough.

I happened to have made two trips in last few weeks along the route. The first one was to have a quick trip to Dooars and Lava to gain some wisdom in the lap of Himalaya after loosing some in the plain! The second trip was during Eid to our Malda home.

Although Raiganj Bypass hasn't officially opened but Siliguri-bound lane of Raiilway Over Bridge is now ready in all respect. We drove through Raiganj bypass (except for the ROB stretch) during both onward and return journey.

After taking over the Berhampore - Farakka section from HCC, the new owner Cube Highways has started the renewal work for the top-layer. So at least for next few months, you will face two-way traffic in a single carriageway in different parts of this section.

However, the recent highlight of this route is the newly 4-laned Krishnanagar - Ranaghat - Barajaguli (Kalyani) section. It's now the fastest section of Kolkata Siliguri route with official speed limit being 100 kmph. Besides, it is the first section of this route in which speed cameras are being installed at multiple locations!

On 12th April, while returning from Malda, we crossed Kaliachak at 5:45 am and reached Mother's Hut, Krishnanagar at 8:45 am (had a 10 min loo break in between). After having breakfast we resumed our journey at 9:30 am and exited NH-12 at Kalyani More at 10:18 am. Ranaghat mess is now a thing of the past . This was my fastest ever drive from Malda where we covered ~260 km in a bit less than 4 hours of drive!.

So as it stands, my firm recommendation for travelling along Kolkata - Siliguri route is now:

Part A:

(i) Kolkata Airport - Madhyamgram - Sodepur - Kalyani Expressway - Kampa - Barajaguli (NH-12 crossing).

OR

(ii) GQ/Howrah/Dankuni - Old Delhi Road (SH13) - Mogra - Kalyani Expressway - Kampa - Barajaguli (NH-12 crossing).


Part B:

Barajaguli - NH12 - Dalkhola - NH27 - Siliguri

In Part A, you will encounter some under-construction stretches in both options! The widening work of Kalyani Expressway between Sodepur and Belghoria Expressway is still going on. Once the widening work in this part is complete then one can take Kalyani Expressway directly from Belghoria Expressway.

Newly 4-laned Krishnanagar - Barajaguli section of NH-12 (near Jalangi Bridge/PWD More VUP, Krishnanagar)


Best wishes,