Jalpaiguri, June 7: The North Bengal National Chamber of Commerce and Industries has proposed a circular railway route linking the three major towns of north Bengal — Siliguri, Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar — and the border town of Changrabandha.

In a letter to the railway minister, the Jalpaiguri-based trade body stated that the alternative route would help residents and businessmen alike.

The route prescribed for the circular railway service will originate from Siliguri Junction. It would then follow the New Jalpaiguri-Raninagar-Jalpaiguri town- Haldibari-Mekhliganj-Changrabandha-New Mainaguri-Dhupguri-Falakata-Cooch Behar-New Cooch Behar-Alipurduar-Kalchini-Hashimara-Madarihat-Birpara-Nagracata-Chulsa-Malbazar-Oodlabari-Siliguri Junction route.

“Though the distance between Mekhliganj and Haldibari is only 10 km, the Teesta divides the two towns. We want a rail-cum-road bridge to link the two. It is also necessary to connect Changrabandha (in Cooch Behar district), as it is an export point and the shortest route from Bhutan to Bangladesh,” said S.P. Biswas, the secretary of the chamber of commerce.

According to members of the trade body, the authorities will have no problem implementing the new railway alignment as large stretches of the route have broad-gauge lines. From Changrabandha, the route could be connected to the New Mainaguri-Jogighopa line, they said.

“If the project is implemented, it would serve as a third route to Assam from New Jalpaiguri. More than 30 lakh people are deprived of railway service. We want the department to think about the plight of the people who are connected only by road to Siliguri, Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar,” said Biswas.