The state irrigation department will construct a five-kilometre parallel road from Jubilee Park to Balapara in order to ease traffic congestion in Jalpaiguri town.

The proposal was laid by the Jalpaiguri municipality as the existing main road that runs through Shantipara, Kadamtala, PWD More, Jalpaiguri district hospital, Dinbazar and Paharpur has become too congested, causing regular traffic snarls.

Sandip Mahato, the chairman-in-council of the civic body, has welcomed the decision. “We had recently sent a proposal to the state government for constructing an alternative road in order to ease the heavy traffic in the town. The new road will be of immense help to the residents.”

A resident said an alternative road would ease flow of traffic on the Main Road of the town.

Apart from the road, the department would also carry out repair works in the Teesta dam. “The road construction and maintenance work of the Teesta embankment is estimated to cost Rs 7 crore. We will invite bids for the works by next week,” said an engineer in the department.

The Siliguri Jalpaiguri Development Authority said that new streetlights would be laid and trees be planted as part of the beautification project.