Siliguri: The Union ministry of road transport and highways has approved a sum of over Rs 250 crore for four-laning a 12km stretch of NH31 on the north-western end of Siliguri.
The project, approved by the Centre, would largely help reduce congestion along the stretch that connects Ghoshpukur with Bihar More, the junction of NH31 and Asian Highway II in Bagdogra.
"Last month, the ministry has approved a sum of Rs 254.30 crore for the project. There is a plan to finish it within two years' time. The funds sanctioned will be used for rehabilitation of affected people as well as for upgrading the 11.9 km stretch of NH31. It would be upgraded to a four-lane highway," said a source in the state PWD.
The NH31 has been four-laned till Ghoshpukur, located around 27km from Siliguri, under the East West Corridor project - a four-lane road connecting Porbunder with Silchar.
But from Ghoshpukur, the four-lane road takes a different route - the Fulbari Bypass-and then moves towards Jalpaiguri along NH31D, and then to Cooch Behar and Alipurduar districts before entering Assam.
"Thus, the Ghoshpukur-Bihar More stretch has remained two-lane. But now that the AH2 project has been taken up, it is a four-lane road from Bihar More towards Siliguri," said the source.
He mentioned that as vehicles would be moving faster along the four-lane highways, it was necessary to widen the stretch in between.
"Construction of remaining portion of the East West Corridor is going on in full swing in Jalpaiguri and adjoining districts. Also, construction of AH2 between Panitanki (on the India-Nepal border) and Fulbari (on India-Bangladesh border) is in progress. Once these stretches are ready, traffic will be faster. But from Bihar More and beyond till Ghoshpukur, if the road remains two-lane, there is always a chance of traffic congestion," said an official associated with the Asian Highway project.
That is why the project approved by the Centre is important as it would help in smooth flow of traffic on north-western end of the city.
Residents of Siliguri and surrounding areas have welcomed the decision.
"It is good that the entire stretch of NH-31 on one end of Siliguri will be four-lane. But we also need four-laning of the Balason Bridge (in Matigara from where AH-II takes a different route) - Salugara stretch of NH-31, where movement of traffic is quite high and traffic congestion is a regular phenomenon. This stretch of the highway skirts Siliguri and needs to be widened," said Tanmoy Goswami, a resident of Kadamtala, located on Siliguri outskirts.
Administrative sources said the state PWD has a plan to widen NH-31 between Balason Bridge and Darjeeling More.
