State tourism minister Gautam Deb on Monday alleged that it was because of the Centre that the Bagdogra airport’s expansion was delayed and traffic snarls along a stretch of NH31 near Darjeeling More, the principal entry point to Siliguri, couldn’t be ended.

“The Union ministry of civil aviation had decided to pay Rs 25 crore as compensation for the land that the state government had arranged for the expansion of the Bagdogra airport. The money hasn’t, however, reached the state government. So, the process of providing the land to the Airports Authority of India has not yet ended…… eventually, the expansion of the airport is getting delayed,” Deb told newspersons at Mainak Tourist Lodge complex here.

The minister pointed out that it was because of chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s decision to waive the surcharge on Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) that flights had increased at Bagdogra and led to a steady surge in the number of passengers in the past few years.

“We are well aware that the existing infrastructure at the airport is inadequate to handle the rush of passengers. It needs an expansion immediately,” he added.

The minister said the central government had taken a similar “negligent” approach to address the issue of traffic congestion at Darjeeling More — the junction of NH 31 and NH 55.

“To reduce the congestion to some extent, we have thought of installing a temporary bailey bridge over the rail track that moves through the area. Earlier, tall talks were made by central ministers and MPs that the two-lane highway would be expanded to a four-lane or a six-lane road but no initiative has been taken so far. Land is also available for the project,” said Deb.