Darjeeling, Sept. 30 -- Raju Bista, Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) from Darjeeling, on Wednesday welcomed the announcement of a Rs 61,500 crore, 630 km highway corridor connecting Siliguri, Guwahati and Shillong, stating that the project would strengthen connectivity and national security in North Bengal and the Northeast.

Welcoming the announcement made by Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, Bista described it as "a landmark infrastructure initiative for North Bengal and the entire Northeast." He said the corridor, along with the proposed Gorakhpur-Siliguri Expressway, would provide seamless road connectivity between northern India, North Bengal and the Northeast.

"The Siliguri Corridor, popularly known as the 'Chicken's Neck', is of vital importance to the country," Bista said, alleging that it had remained neglected during the "UPA-TMC era". He stated that the present government, both in the Centre and the State, has a sustained focus on strategic roads, highways and multimodal connectivity.

Bista said improved highways would facilitate the movement of goods and provide easier access to education and healthcare. "Better highways mean faster movement of goods, easier access for students and patients, greater convenience for tourists and travellers, and improved opportunities for trade, industry and investment," he said.

He added that improved logistics and connectivity could boost tourism, trade and investment, creating opportunities for young people across North Bengal and the Northeast.

The proposed corridor also fits into the broader connectivity objectives of the Centre's Act East Policy. The Ministry of External Affairs says the Look East Policy, launched in 1992, was upgraded to the Act East Policy in 2014, with connectivity identified as a key element of economic growth and regional integration. The policy places the Northeast at the centre of India's engagement with Southeast Asia, including through cross-border connectivity projects.

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