The Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, has announced a major infrastructure boost worth ₹2,077.18 crore for the four‑laning of the 31.02‑kilometre Bagdogra–Panitanki–Kharibari–Galgalia section of NH‑327 in Darjeeling district, NDTV reported.

This project is strategically located along the Siliguri Corridor, also known as the “Chicken’s Neck,” and is expected to significantly strengthen connectivity to northeast India while improving access towards Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh.

The project will involve the construction of three major bridges, one Road Over Bridge, five elephant underpasses, and service roads on both sides. These features are designed to ensure safer movement for both people and wildlife, while also enhancing logistics efficiency.

The four‑laning begins near Galgalia, a border town close to Bhadrapur in Nepal, and ends at Bagdogra, where the highway merges with NH‑27 near Bagdogra Airport.

Bagdogra Airport itself is undergoing a major transformation, with a new passenger terminal being built to handle 3,000 peak‑hour passengers. The terminal will include ten parking bays for A321/B737 type narrow‑body aircraft, multi‑level car parking, and will be designed as a Green Building utilising renewable energy. This will further enhance the airport’s role as a regional hub for connectivity and trade.

The upgraded NH‑327 will provide an alternative route to NH‑27 and will become part of the wider Asian Highway 2 network in Siliguri. This corridor forms a vital 38‑kilometre international economic route connecting the India–Nepal border at Panitanki to the India–Bangladesh border at Fulbari.

The project is expected to decongest Bagdogra, Naxalbari, Kharibari, and Panitanki, while improving connectivity to Bagdogra Airport and key regional centres. It will also enable faster movement of agricultural, horticultural, tea, and other local produce to larger markets.

Darjeeling MP Raju Bista welcomed the announcement, emphasising that the project goes beyond regional connectivity. He highlighted its role in strengthening the economic infrastructure of North Bengal, supporting the movement of essential goods, services, and people between eastern and north-eastern India. He also underlined its strategic importance in reinforcing India’s access to the Northeast and neighbouring countries.

India has been steadily boosting infrastructure in the Siliguri Corridor to secure this critical lifeline. Plans are underway for a 40‑kilometre underground rail corridor to ensure disruption‑proof connectivity to the Northeast.

This will involve laying underground railway tracks, expanding existing tracks to four lines, and creating additional capacity for uninterrupted passenger and freight movement. A high‑speed rail service is also being planned, with the Siliguri to Varanasi corridor under consideration.

These developments reflect India’s strategic priority to safeguard the Siliguri Corridor, ensuring resilient connectivity for both civilian and defence requirements.

The combination of highway expansion, airport modernisation, and underground rail planning underscores the government’s determination to secure this sensitive transit zone and strengthen regional integration.

Agencies