The Centre has sanctioned ₹770.25 crore to widen and upgrade National Highway 717A, aiming to improve connectivity to the China border through Sikkim. Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, announced the allocation via his official Facebook page on Sunday.
“This project will upgrade NH-717A to a two-lane highway with paved shoulders in West Bengal and Sikkim,” Gadkari said. The route passes through the Jalpaiguri and Kalimpong districts of Bengal before entering Sikkim, providing a vital link to the strategic border regions.
The planned construction includes an 18.42km stretch from Lava More to the start of the Pedong bypass in Kalimpong. Additionally, slope protection work is scheduled along the Bagrakote-Kafer stretch in Jalpaiguri and Kalimpong. In Sikkim, a 5.2km section from Reshi to Rhenock will also be upgraded.
Currently, NH10 serves as the main lifeline connecting Sikkim to the rest of India. However, it often faces disruptions, especially during monsoons, due to frequent landslides and the presence of hydropower projects developed over the past decade. The NH717A corridor has emerged as a viable alternative and is being developed to ensure safer, uninterrupted connectivity.
Gadkari underlined the significance of building a climate-resilient route:
“As a climate-resilient alternative to NH10 — often disrupted during monsoons — the upgraded corridor will employ advanced technologies like Self Drilling Anchors and Gabion structures. This initiative will significantly enhance regional connectivity, ensure all-weather access and promote tourism and socio-economic growth,” he added.
Strategic and military relevance
The highway is of strategic importance for the military as well. Following the 2017 Doklam stand-off between India and China, the Centre initiated surveys for the development of NH717A and NH717B. Doklam lies at the tri-junction of India, China, and Bhutan and became a flashpoint during a military standoff when India opposed Chinese road construction in the disputed region.
NH717A, stretching over 140km, begins at Bagrakote in Jalpaiguri, about 30km from Siliguri, and terminates at Ranipool in Sikkim, just 11km below Gangtok. The Reshi-Rhenock section near the Kalimpong-Sikkim border is crucial, as NH717B branches off from this point and heads north towards Menla in North Sikkim, covering a distance of about 94km. Menla is located approximately 20km from Nathu-la, and Doklam lies just 25km south of that.
With this new allocation and focus on infrastructure in sensitive border areas, the Centre aims to not only boost mobility but also reinforce security and resilience in the eastern Himalayas.
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