The state PWD has carried out the process of identifying land needed along the 13km stretch of NH31 on the northern parts of Siliguri to widen the highway into four lanes, said senior officials of the department.

“We have demarcated land needed to widen this stretch of the highway. Most of this land is with the state government. Also, the administration of Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri districts have identified parcels of private land required for the project. It has been done in advance so that the project can start at the earliest,” said a state PWD official.

Last week, Union minister of road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari had shared information that his ministry sanctioned Rs 994 crore for the project, which was a longstanding demand of Siliguri residents.

On Sunday, Darjeeling’s MP of the BJP, Raju Bista, referred to the sanction and asserted the onus was on the state government now to facilitate the execution of the project. “The state should arrange necessary land and take other required steps. They should not make any move that can deter the project,” he had said.

The remark was on the lines of what a number of his party colleagues, including Gadkari, had said — that delay in land acquisition in Bengal delays road projects.

The state PWD’s proactive move, administrative sources said, is to nullify the charge of the saffron camp and simultaneously drive home the point that the state is sincere in developing road infrastructure in the region, also considered strategically important in terms of national security.

“We are waiting for a further notification to start other processes such as acquiring private land parcels against appropriate compensation,” said an official of Jalpaiguri district.

According to experts, 12 to 14 acres are needed to build a 1km stretch of a four-lane highway.

Dalkhola bypass

The 5.5km Dalkhola bypass in North Dinajpur district, which is along NH12 (earlier NH34), was opened for passenger traffic from Sunday evening.

“It will decongest Dalkhola town, where traffic snarls were regular as the railway level crossing that cuts the highway,” said a PWD official.

For goods vehicles, the bypass will open by May as construction of a minor bridge is on.

“The NHAI is building two other bypasses in Raiganj and Behrampore. We are working in a coordinated way to address issues related to land and bottlenecks,” the official added.

On Monday, Siliguri mayor Gautam Deb held a virtual meeting with PWD officials and asked them to draw up a design for the proposed four-lane stretch of NH31 with proper entry and exit points to Siliguri Regulated Market — the largest wholesale hub of vegetables, fruits and fish.

“We have also said that an international standard bus terminal will come up on a vacant land next to the stretch. There should be adequate provisions for movement of vehicles. Also, a local market has to be shifted and we have asked the PWD to find alternative land,” the mayor said.