Darjeeling MP Raju Bista has urged Union minister of surface transport and highways Nitin Gadkari to take an initiative for the construction of an alternative bridge over the Teesta river near Sevoke.
The BJP legislator met the minister in New Delhi on Thursday with the plea.
The 80-year-old Coronation Bridge over the Teesta along NH31C at Sevoke had developed cracks in 2011 and since then, heavy vehicles have been barred from plying on the structure.
In 2012, the Centre decided to build an alternative bridge over the river around 7km downstream the Coronation Bridge. It was planned that the new bridge would run parallel to a railway bridge and connect Sevoke Bazaar with Elenbarie tea estate in the Dooars.
