Fulbari to get smart city amenities - Modern infrastructure awaits Siliguri suburb

TT, Siliguri, Aug. 25: North Bengal development minister Gautam Deb today said Fulbari near Siliguri would be developed as a smart city, a project launched by the Centre to provide modern infrastructure along with information technology-based civic amenities to the people.

The Narendra Modi-led NDA government had announced that it would develop 100 smart cities across the country and set aside over Rs 7,000 crore for the purpose.

“In north Bengal, the state government wants two smart cities, in Jaigaon and Fulbari. The state will soon propose to the Union urban development ministry that Fulbari be developed as a smart city,” Deb said here today.

Fulbari is on the outskirts of Siliguri and falls under Rajganj block of Jalpaiguri district. Located on the border with Bangladesh, Fulbari has NH31D, the principal highway that connects the Northeast with the rest of the country. Uttarkanya — the north Bengal branch of the state secretariat — and Dabgram industrial estate are in Fulbari.

The Teesta-Mahananda Link Canal also passes through Fulbari that falls under Deb’s Assembly segment (Dabgram-Fulbari). The place has a number of educational institutions and a private hospital is also coming up in the locality.

Under the smart city project, the disposal of garbage is automated and a computer-run central grid monitors electricity and gas supply, traffic network and some government works. CCTV cameras and sensors are used to obtain real time pictures and data.

The minister said Fulbari was an ideal site to be developed as a smart city.

“It has an international border and important administrative infrastructure. The connectivity is excellent as NH31D passes through the area and the railway station and the airport are near. As Siliguri is expanding, we want suburbs like Fulbari to be developed in a planned manner,” said Deb.

The nearest railway station to Fulbari is New Jalpaiguri, 4km away. The Bagdogra airport is 18km from Fulbari.

Online service

Deb on Monday launched the online delivery of land use and compatibility certificate from the Siliguri Jalpaiguri Development Authority.

“Anybody constructing any building in the SJDA area needs to have the land use and compatibility certificate. From today, it would be available online and can be obtained by submitting necessary documents and payment of fees online. Necessary provisions have been made in the SJDA website in this regard,” said Deb, who is also the chairman of the SJDA.

He also launched Anti-Noise Pollution Week in Siliguri on Monday. The campaign is being carried out by West Bengal Pollution Control Board in association with NGOs.