Siliguri traffic ache cure

Siliguri: The state government and the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) will jointly initiate the task to widen the stretch of NH-31 between Phansidewa More (on way to Bagdogra and on north-western side of Siliguri) with Salugara (located on the north-eastern end of the city), soon.

State tourism minister Gautam Deb said here on Monday that they have plans to make the stretch— that is double lane now - into a six-lane highway. He will soon visit the stretch and will talk to stakeholders to work on issues, including land acquisition, for the proposed widening.

As on date, this is the most congested stretch of the highway in the northern end of Siliguri. There are apprehensions that the congestion would increase once the Asian Highway-II become operational by end of this year. On January this year, The Telegraph had reported about the stretch and also that residents of the city want it to be widened immediately.

"The stretch of NH between Phansidewa More and Salugara will be widened to a six-lane road. It will be a big project and will be taken up for hassle free traffic movement along the highway. Around Rs 1,200 crores will be spent for construction. The state has taken the decision after Centre has requested us to widen it," Deb said.

"This will largely help in improving road connectivity of Siliguri and surroundings. The stretch will connect the Asian Highway on way to Bagdogra and NH-10 that leads to Sikkim, on the other end. I will soon hold talks with stakeholders on next month and will visit the entire stretch to take a stock of the situation," he added.

While speaking on roads and highways in and around the city, the minister also trained guns at the Left-run Siliguri Municipal Corporation.

"The north Bengal development department will spend Rs 10.50 crores for construction of roads in 19 wards of Siliguri. The department will also build a bridge in ward-37 by spending Rs 3 crores. On the other hand, the state PWD will build a road over bridge at Burdwan Road and is widening the road," he said.

According to him, the state government takes care of most major roads of the city, including the Hill Cart Road and Sevoke Road.

"We have built footpaths along Hill Cart Road but the civic body did not take any step to remove encroachers from it. Instead, it allowed them to set up stalls on the footpath after the construction," said the minister.

The Telegraph