Traffic snarl fear sparks widening demand NH31 and Asian Highway 2 merger triggers plea for new bridges

The AH2 and NH31 share the same stretch for some distance (see map)

AVIJIT SINHA, TT, Jan 15, 2018, Siliguri: The Asian Highway II, one of the prominent road projects taken up in north Bengal in recent years, has brought both cheers and worries for residents of Siliguri and the surroundings.

The highway is skirting the city and moving through locations which are close to the principal entry points of Siliguri, both at northern and southern ends.

People have demanded that the entire stretch of NH31 in and near Siliguri be widened and new bridges be built over the Balasun and Mahananda rivers along the highway.

"It is obvious that vehicles will move at a high speed along the four-laned AH2. But as the vehicles reach junctions on the southern and northern ends of the city, where the road is two-laned, it would lead to immense traffic congestion," said Avik Chakraborty, a civil engineer based in Siliguri.

The AH2 connects Panitanki (on the India-Nepal border) with Fulbari (on Bangladesh frontier) and moves through the southern ends of Siliguri, touching a stretch of NH31.

Vehicles lined up on NH31 at Darjeeling More, the most common entry point on the northern end of Siliguri, on Monday. Picture by Passang Yolmo

It is a four-lane road along most of the stretches. The AH2 will merge with NH31 from Bihar More in Bagdogra till Matigara Tea Estate. Then, the AH2 will move southwards to enter Bangladesh.

Along the common stretch of NH31 and AH2, the road has been made a four-lane one and flyovers are under construction. It seems the work will finish this year. That means vehicles will move at a high speed along the stretch but as they will reach Balason Bridge (located just a few metres from where the AH2 takes a southward turn), there will be congestion, said residents.

As of now, the stretch of NH31 between Darjeeling More and Balason Bridge (around 3km) remains congested for most of the time.

Darjeeling More is the important junction where NH55 merges with NH31.

"We feel the state government should mull over the proposal of widening the remaining stretch of NH31, that is between Balason Bridge and Salugara (located at the northeast end of the city). If the highway is made four-lane, it would largely help ease traffic around the city. These days, it takes around 45 minutes to reach Bagdogra airport (located 14km away). If the traffic congestion increases, it would only worsen the situation," said Jeet Agarwal, a businessman of the city.

Some other residents mentioned that new bridges should be constructed over the Balason and Mahananda rivers on NH31.

"Also, a second bridge over the rail track that heads to the Dooars from Siliguri Junction (located close to Darjeeling More) is the need of the hour. The state should take up the issues with the railways and the Centre," Santanu Chowdhury, who is into travel trade, said.

As the AH2 is moving through a portion Burdwan Road from Naukaghat More that connects the southern end of Siliguri, the state PWD has decided to widen the road.

"Work has started to widen the Burdwan Road (it originates from Airview More). Also a second over-bridge would be built over the rail tracks that cut the road near Airview More. But simultaneously, NH31 needs to be widened at the northern end," said a retired government official.

Sources in the state PWD said the department had plans to widen the Balason Bridge-Darjeleing More stretch of NH31.

"It is a major project. Also, there is a demand to widen the highway beyond Darjeeling More, that is, till Salugara. Senior officials and even the minister are aware of the situation. Now that the Burdwan Road will be widened to keep pace with the traffic along AH2, we feel the expansion of NH31 will also be taken up in due course," said a source.