India is planning to boost connectivity to the border near the India-China-Bhutan tri-junction with the Khunia More to Jaldhaka railway project, a newly sanctioned 17-kilometer strategic rail link in North Bengal with an estimated cost of Rs 272 crore. The project also aims to improve and boost tourism in the Dooars region.
“Happy to share that the Ministry of Railways has sanctioned around Rs 272 crore for a new 17-km line to Jaldhaka. The route will originate from Khunia More near Chalsa, and pass through Jalpaiguri and Kalimpong forest divisions,” Siliguri MP Raju Bista wrote in a social media post.
The Jaldhaka River is a 186 to 233-kilometer-long trans-boundary river flowing through Sikkim and West Bengal in India, Bhutan, and Bangladesh. It originates from the Kupup (Bitang) Lake near the Jelep La pass in Sikkim and ultimately empties into the Brahmaputra River.
“The rail link will improve connectivity to the India-China-Bhutan tri-junction and boost tourism in the Jhaldhaka-Bindu-Todey Tangta area. The railways and the West Bengal forest department, will carry out a joint survey after the monsoon for the proposed new line,” Bista added.
In a long post on Instagram, Bista thanked PM Narendra Modi, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav for “giving top priority to developing modern infrastructure in our region.”