The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will invite bids in December for the construction of a new bridge across the Teesta River to serve as an alternative route to the historic Coronation Bridge near Sevoke, around 500km north of Bangladesh. The project includes a four-lane bridge and approach roads, forming part of a wider connectivity upgrade for North Bengal.
The new crossing will link Sevoke Bazaar with the Dooars region and integrate with the planned Siliguri Ring Road and Siliguri-Gorakhpur Expressway. The new crossing is also considered strategically important due to its location, approximately 120km south of the China border.
Officials expect the bridge to be about 14m wide, with completion targeted within 36 months of work starting. The tender announcement follows years of delay caused by jurisdictional disputes, which were resolved earlier this year when the section was transferred from the state Public Works Department to NHAI.
The arch Coronation Bridge, spanning approximately 196m, was built in 1941 to commemorate King George VI's coronation. It remains a vital link between the Northeast and the rest of the country but is now structurally fragile. Heavy vehicles have been banned from using the bridge since cracks appeared on the structure following an earthquake in 2011 and its narrow deck struggles to cope with growing traffic volumes. The new bridge is expected to ease pressure on the historic structure, which will continue to attract tourists for its iconic steel arch design.
