Gyalshing, July 1 (IPR): The District Roads Coordination Committee (DRCC) meeting was convened today at the Conference Hall of the District Administrative Centre, Rabdentse, under the chairmanship of the District Collector-cum-District Magistrate, Gyalshing, Mr Tenzing D. Denzongpa. The meeting comprehensively reviewed the status of road infrastructure, restoration works and disaster preparedness across the district, with particular emphasis on ensuring uninterrupted connectivity during the ongoing monsoon season.
At the outset, Additional District Collector (HQ), Ms Tripti Hangma Subba, reviewed the action taken report on the decisions of the previous DRCC meeting and assessed the department-wise progress achieved so far. She informed that DRCC meetings are to be convened once every two months and that consolidated progress reports are required to be submitted to the High Court of Sikkim as well as the Office of the Chief Secretary, Government of Sikkim. She, therefore, stressed the importance of submitting authentic and regularly updated progress reports.
She further directed the concerned departments to furnish realistic completion timelines for all ongoing works under PMGSY, Roads & Bridges and the Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department. Highlighting road safety measures, she reviewed the installation of crash barriers at Tikjek Bhir and instructed the concerned agencies to expedite the installation of crash barriers at other vulnerable stretches. She also emphasised the installation of clearly visible road signages on both sides of the roads. Regarding the installation of streetlights, the Superintending Engineer (Power) informed the house that administrative approval has already been received and the work will commence shortly.
Chairing the meeting, District Collector reviewed the ongoing sewerage and road construction works along the Byadung-Gyalshing road being executed by the PHE Department. He directed the department to immediately clear blocked drains that are causing waterlogging and inconvenience to residents in the downstream areas. Stressing the need for proper drainage management, he instructed that the remaining drain works be completed on priority to ensure the smooth flow of water.
The Chair also reviewed the status of restoration works at the vulnerable stretch near Devi Mandir and directed the Roads & Bridges and PHE Departments to ensure timely completion of maintenance and restoration works. He further drew attention to the vulnerable Omchung shortcut and instructed the concerned departments to undertake regular maintenance of drainage systems to prevent further deterioration.
Reviewing the condition of the Rabongla-Kewzing road, an important arterial route connecting Gyalshing with other parts of the State, the District Collector sought an update from the General Manager, NHIDCL, regarding the progress of restoration works. He directed that the vulnerable stretches be attended to immediately and that all pending works be expedited without further delay.
The Chair also reviewed the ongoing restoration works along the Legship-Gyalshing road and instructed NHIDCL to undertake immediate repairs of the Lunjik Bridge, noting that its deteriorated condition poses a potential safety risk, particularly to school-going children.
During the meeting, DC reviewed the overall status of road infrastructure across the district and deliberated on issues relating to road maintenance, restoration and improvement. He directed that copies of all notices or letters issued to non-performing contractors be forwarded to the Office of the District Collector to facilitate continuous monitoring and follow-up.
He also reviewed the restoration works at the Power Department's substation in Pelling, which was recently damaged, affecting a nearby residential house and directed the department to complete the restoration work at the earliest. Further, he instructed NHIDCL to address the issue of damaged Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) pipelines, as reported by the Rural Development Department, to minimise inconvenience to the public.
The Chair also reviewed the progress of the proposed installation of 4G mobile towers at five Border Out Posts (BOPs) in Uttarey in coordination with BSNL and directed the concerned agencies to expedite the execution of the project on priority.
Emphasising the need for proactive preparedness during the monsoon, the District Collector directed all line departments to ensure continuous monitoring of vulnerable locations, strategic deployment of machinery and manpower, and adequate availability of resources for the timely restoration of affected road networks. He underscored the importance of close inter-departmental coordination to ensure prompt execution of restoration works and effective resolution of issues affecting connectivity across the district.
Earlier, Superintendent of Police, Gyalshing, Mr Tshering Sherpa, apprised the house of the increasing incidence of cyber frauds in the district and stressed the need for enhanced public awareness and vigilance. He highlighted several emerging cybercrime threats, including digital arrest scams, sextortion, voice cloning, fake income tax scams, fake job scams, parcel scams, WhatsApp account hijacking, deepfake (AI-generated) frauds, insurance renewal frauds and drug parcel scams.
He urged all stakeholders to remain vigilant against unsolicited calls, messages and online requests and advised the public to report any suspected cyber fraud immediately. He informed that victims of cybercrime or anyone encountering such incidents should promptly contact the National Cyber Crime Helpline at 1930, as timely reporting significantly improves the chances of preventing financial loss and enabling swift action by the concerned authorities.
The meeting was attended by Superintendent of Police, Gyalshing, Mr Tshering Sherpa Additional District Collector (HQ), Ms Tripti Hangma Subba, SDM (HQ), Mr Agni Prasad Chettri, Chief Medical Officer, District Hospital Gyalshing, Dr Namgay Bhutia, Superintending Engineer (Power), Mr Jai Prakash Subba, DPO (Zilla), Mr PD Bhutia, Divisional Engineer (PMGSY), Ms Angel Lepcha, Divisional Engineer (Roads & Bridges), Mr Santosh Singh, Divisional Engineer (RDD), Ms Priya Kharka, General Manager, NHIDCL, representatives from the Forest Department, Public Health Engineering Department, BSNL and other stakeholder departments.
The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks to the chair.