Siliguri Corridor gets Rs 2,077 crore highway boost

Siliguri Corridor is set for a major infrastructure upgrade, with the Centre approving a Rs 2,077.18-crore project to four-lane the 31.02-km NH-327. The stretch links Bagdogra in West Bengal’s Darjeeling district with Galgalia in Bihar’s Kishanganj.

Union road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari announced the approval on Thursday, saying that the project would include three major bridges, a road over bridge, five elephant underpasses and service roads on both sides of the highway. According to the minister, the project will strengthen connectivity along the strategically important Siliguri Corridor and improve access to the Northeast as well as towards Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh.

“Located along the strategically vital Siliguri Corridor, the project will strengthen connectivity to Northeast India and improve access towards Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh,” he said. The four-laning is also expected to ease congestion in Bagdogra, Naxalbari, Kharibari and Panitanki, while improving connectivity to Bagdogra Airport and other key regional centres. Minister Gadkari said that the upgraded highway would enable faster movement of agricultural, horticultural, tea and other local produce from the region to larger markets. The elephant underpasses are intended to support safer movement of wildlife along the route.

Strengthening Northeast

The project covers an important section of the Siliguri Corridor, a narrow strip of land separating Nepal from Bangladesh. The corridor is less than 20 km wide at its narrowest point and serves as the only road and rail link connecting the rest of India with the Northeast. The government is strengthening infrastructure along this vital land bridge connecting mainland India with Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura. Improved road connectivity is expected to facilitate faster transportation of agricultural, horticultural and tea products from North Bengal to larger markets, potentially benefiting local producers and businesses. The highway project comes amid the government's focus on strengthening infrastructure in north Bengal. CM Suvendu Adhikari, who assumed office in May this year, has repeatedly said that improving connectivity and infrastructure in North Bengal is among his priorities. The chief minister has also emphasised infrastructure development to support industrial growth in North Bengal, particularly through the “Triple-T” sectors of tea, timber and tourism.