Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) trains are likely to chug along with cars and vehicles from Siliguri to Darjeeling in the near future to reduce traffic snarls in the hill town.
The Union ministries of road transport and highways and railways are working on building Calcutta-styled tramways for the world-famous hill rail link.
“For immediate relief in the traffic problem in Darjeeling, the railways and road ministry are working together to get the train and vehicles on the same road just like the tramways in Calcutta. The approval (for the project) will be given very soon,” said Raju Bista, Darjeeling MP.
Traffic snarls along NH110 (formerly called NH55) are a major problem mainly during the tourist seasons of March-May and October-November.
During peak tourist season it takes nearly five hours to cover the 70-odd Siliguri-Darjeeling stretch which normally can be covered within three hours.
Bista said the plan to bring the rail link on the road would help widen the highway. “The road can be widened between 10 and 20 feet,” said Bista.
The new project seems feasible as the railway line is laid more or less on the same alignment as NH110, also called the Hill Cart Road. Out of the total 87.48 kilometres of the rail link, 64 kilometres are on the same road bench.
The DHR rail line has five major and 498 minor bridges, 177 unmanned level crossings, eight loops, including five reverse ones, and 13 stations.
While many Darjeeling residents want the highway to be widened, many DHR fans, however, want the DHR area to be distinctly marked. They do not want the road to be extended over the lines, fearing such a move could affect its existing world heritage status.
The construction of an alternative highway between Darjeeling and Siliguri is expected to take some time. “Surveys are being carried out for an alternative highway,” said Bista.
Earlier, the authorities had identified a route through Balason and another through Lebong-Harsing as an alternative connector to Darjeeling.
“The alternative route through Lebong to Teesta Bazar would ease traffic congestion in Darjeeling as all other connecting roads join at Jorebunglow. The Lebong route would be in the opposite direction to Jorebunglow and would also help ease traffic congestion in Darjeeling,” said a retired engineer.
The Centre has also decided to widen NH10 which connects Sikkim with Siliguri, apart from coming up with an alternative bridge to the famed Coronation Bridge over the Teesta river in a bid to reduce its vehicular load.