Siliguri, July 12: The Siliguri Jalpaiguri Development Authority has taken up the task of checking the status of all properties it owns, including land and commercial buildings, to find out if they have been encroached upon, or are lying unused.

"We have decided to conduct a survey of all properties of the SJDA. There are stretches of land and commercial and other buildings in Siliguri and Jalpaiguri. Our plan is to make a complete assessment of each property to see if it is being used in a proper manner," SJDA chairman Sourav Chakraborty said here today.

Sources said the survey would start soon.

Today, Chakraborty and a team of SJDA officials went to some plots owned by the SJDA in and around Siliguri. "Our chief executive officer has gone to some other locations to get an idea of the properties," Chakraborty said.

Asked about encroachments, he said: "All we can say is that once the assessment is done, we will earmark land and buildings which are not being used in a proper manner. The SJDA wants to make best use of the assets."

Today, Chakraborty also visited some plots at Salbari, Tinbatti More and Paribahan Nagar in Matigara.

"The chief minister had made it clear that to reduce traffic congestion in Siliguri, a new bus terminus would be built on the outskirts of the town. She had said Tenzing Norgay Central Bus Terminus would be developed as an international terminus. That is why we visited the three sites," Chakraborty said.

He added: "A letter from the principal secretary of state transport department has reached us and shortly, we will prepare a detailed report of each of the three sites and forward it to the transport department through the Darjeeling district administration."

Chakraborty said about seven acres would be required for the proposed depot. "Once the transport department finalises the plot, the state can build the terminus. In case the task is given to the SJDA, we are ready to build it," he said.