Bailey Bridge on Balason River, which will be repaired
The Army has proposed a 12-hour shutdown on Tuesday. Dudhia is around 26km from Siliguri on State Highway-12, while the distance from Siliguri to Mirik through Dudhia is around 48 km. The iron bridge at Dudhia was washed away on Oct 4, 2025, following a sharp rise in the Balason after heavy rain in the Hills. The 1965-built bridge had already become structurally weak.
Siliguri : Mirik bound from Siliguri traffic is likely to be affected as the Bailey Bridge over the Balason River at Dudhia will be closed for maintenance. The Bailey Bridge is the only crucial structure that connects Siliguri with Mirik and its surrounding areas and is a passage for light vehicles through Dudhia. Since July, the bridge has been use for movement of civilian traffic. The Army has recommended monthly maintenance and sought early confirmation of the final closure date. Vehicles will have to move along an alternative route through Ghum and Darjeeling, if the Bailey Bridge is kept shut.
The proposed closure comes at a crucial time for the Siliguri-Mirik route, with a portion of the temporary bridge at Dudhia washed away on Friday, following incessant rain and a sharp rise in the Balason’s water level.
The Army-built Bailey Bridge was inaugurated by chief minister Suvendu Adhikari on July 8 to restore connectivity between Siliguri and Mirik. The state govt had also sanctioned around Rs 53 crore for a permanent concrete bridge at Dudhia, which is currently under construction. The permanent bridge is expected to be completed by March 2027.
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