The Centre has sanctioned projects worth seventy crore rupees to the Border Roads Organisation for strengthening the road infrastructure in Sikkim. These include widening of the National Highway 31 A, the only road connecting this landlocked State to the rest of the country via Siliguri in West Bengal, between Kalijhora and Rambi at a cost of fifty one crore rupees. Seventeen crore rupees will be spent on strengthening the pavements between Ranipool and Gangtok along the National Highway. Our correspondent reports that a sum of one crore fifty lakh rupees has been sanctioned for spending on consultancy services for preparing the Detailed Project Report for the proposed one kilometer long bridge at Rangpo, the main entry point to Sikkim.