Raiganj, Aug. 31 -- In a significant development for road connectivity in North Dinajpur district, the Union Road Transport and Highways ministry has approved the construction of a 25 km four-lane greenfield corridor along National Highway 27 from Garhappa near Kanki to Hatwar in Goalpokhar of the district, bypassing Kishanganj in Bihar.

According to officials, the process of preparing the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the proposed road has already begun. The new corridor is expected to provide a direct connection between different parts of West Bengal and reduce dependence on the existing route through Bihar.

Speaking about the development, Raiganj MP Kartik Chandra Paul said: "Commuters travelling between North and South Bengal regularly suffer due to congestion on the Bihar stretch. After consulting with the chairman of the National Highways Authority of India, the Union ministry approved the proposal and initiated the DPR preparation process. We hope that construction would begin soon after completion of the tendering process. The proposed corridor is expected to reduce travel time, ease congestion and improve road safety for commuters and commercial vehicles travelling through North Bengal."

At present, vehicles travelling from Raiganj towards Siliguri generally use NH-12 before joining NH-27 at Purnia More in Dalkhola. The route on NH 27 then passes through Kishanganj district in Bihar before re-entering West Bengal near Rampur in Goalpokhar. Commuters and transport operators have long complained of frequent traffic congestion and delays along the Bihar stretch.

The problem is reportedly aggravated by vehicle checks conducted by the excise department and Bihar Police. Heavy traffic also accumulates at Purnia More, where NH-12 merges with NH-27 and several roads from Bihar converge, resulting in frequent bottlenecks.

Paul had submitted a memorandum to Union Road Transport and Highways minister Nitin Gadkari in New Delhi on July 23, demanding construction of a new stretch of NH-27 entirely in West Bengal.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.