Major road infra push in North Bengal

GANGTOK, : Darjeeling MP Raju Bista joined Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways Ajay Tamta for a detailed review meeting on the ongoing and proposed highway development projects across the Darjeeling hills, Terai and Dooars regions.

Senior officials from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) participated in the discussions focused on accelerating key highway and road infrastructure projects.

In a press release, RajuBista highlighted several ongoing and upcoming infrastructure works estimated to exceed Rs. 50,000 crore in investment.

Among the major works reviewed was National Highway 717A to Kalimpong, with an estimated cost of Rs. 2,600 crore and Balason-Sevoke Army Cantonment Elevated Highway Corridor, pegged at Rs. 1,000 crore. The critical redevelopment of NH10, now under NHIDCL for expedited repair and widening, has been allocated Rs. 800 crore, while NH110 (formerly NH55) to Darjeeling is undergoing similar upgrades.

Land acquisition has begun for the massive Gorakhpur-Siliguri Expressway, a Rs. 27,000 crore mega project, and construction work has commenced for the Siliguri-Kharagpur Economic Corridor (EC-14) with a sanctioned budget of Rs. 10,247 crore.

Projects awaiting final construction clearance include the Siliguri-Fulbari four-laning project (Rs. 750 crore), Siliguri Ring Road (Rs. 3,500 crore), Ambari-Falakata four-laning (Rs. 761 crore), Sevoke Army Cantt to Sevoke Bazar Elevated Highway (Rs. 1,400 crore) and an alternative to the Coronation Bridge (Rs. 1,100 crore).

Bista said the meeting also discussed upcoming proposals aimed at strengthening regional connectivity. These include the alternative highway to Darjeeling via Balason, a new Darjeeling–Teesta route via Lebong and DabaiPani and the Teesta Bazaar-Chalsa Highway.

“The timely execution of these infrastructure projects will significantly improve regional connectivity, and contribute to the broader goal of national development. These initiatives are aligned with the Prime Minister NarendraModi’s vision of Vikshit Bharat by the year 2047,” Bista said.

The LokSabha MP expressed gratitude to Union Minister NitinGadkari and MoS Ajay Tamta for prioritizing North Bengal in the national highway development agenda. “These infrastructure projects will not only improve access but also open up immense opportunities for tourism, trade, and economic development in the region,” he added.