Rohini Road reopens, links plains to the Hills again

Darjeeling: With the New Year ushering in fresh hope for travellers, the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) restored the crucial Rohini route, reconnecting Siliguri with the Queen of the Hills and significantly cutting travel time. The reopening of this scenic mountain road on Thursday was widely welcomed by tourists and stakeholders alike, as it eased the uphill drive and revived a long-missed gateway to Darjeeling.
Rohini Road was washed away in a landslide on Oct 4 last year, severing a vital link between the hills and the plains. During the closure, vehicles travelling between Siliguri and Darjeeling were forced to take longer detours via NH110 and Pankhabari Road, adding nearly 30 minutes to travel time. The Pankhabari stretch, marked by sharp bends, steep gradients and narrow turns, proved particularly uncomfortable and challenging for drivers.GTA tourism executive director Sonam Bhutia said, "While restoration work is still underway, we reopened the route as a New Year's gift to tourists," Bhutia said. However, even as one route reopened to ease travel, traffic movement within Darjeeling slowed to a crawl. Alleged restrictions imposed by the Army on vehicular movement near Indira Bypass close to Ghum resulted in severe congestion, especially during the peak tourist season. Travel time to Darjeeling reportedly stretched up to 5 hours—almost double the usual 2.5-hour drive—leaving tourists stranded in long traffic jams. The Darjeeling Association of Travel Agents (DATA) raised concerns over the situation. DATA general secretary Pradeep Lama alleged that vehicles were stopped and checked by Army personnel, with drivers being asked not to use Indira Bypass route from Thursday."The Indira Bypass was the only major diversion to ease congestion. Restricting it all of a sudden created confusion and bottlenecks, forcing tourists and commuters onto already overcrowded roads," Lama said. He added that the Darjeeling–Ghum stretch, which traditionally sees heavy traffic, became especially problematic. "The Army is known for helping the public during emergencies—building Bailey bridges and extending support in crisis situations.Such restrictions during peak tourist season are difficult to understand and unacceptable," he said. With vehicular access restricted within a 1-km radius, even short distances turned into long delays. An 8-km journey is now taking nearly 1 hour, leaving tourists frustrated. Traffic officials echoed similar concerns, stating that the Gandhi Road–Indira Bypass–Ghum stretch was identified as the main diversion to manage congestion. The officer added that although a 2-day window was reportedly given, the enforcement was forceful, adding to confusion.Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Happy New Year wishes, messages, and quotes !