Historic Siliguri Town Railway Station Set for Restoration

MP, June 5, 2026, Siliguri : Once a vital gateway connecting North Bengal with South Bengal during the British era, the historic Siliguri Town Railway Station is set to regain its former glory as Indian Railways has initiated a major restoration project to preserve its rich heritage.

The old station building, which still stands as a symbol of the region’s history, has witnessed the footsteps of several eminent personalities, including Rabindranath Tagore, Jatindranath Mukherjee, Chittaranjan Das, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and Mahatma Gandhi.

According to historical accounts, Tagore would often arrive at Siliguri Town Station before travelling to Mongpu in the Darjeeling hills.

Constructed in 1880 during British rule, the station building has long held heritage status. However, years of neglect left the structure in a dilapidated condition. Overgrown vegetation, damaged doors and windows, and piles of debris around the premises raised concerns among residents and heritage enthusiasts about the future of this historic landmark.

Responding to longstanding demands, the Railways has now undertaken a comprehensive restoration initiative. The project aims to preserve the heritage structure while restoring its original architectural character.

Railway authorities plan to spend nearly Rs 3 crore on the conservation work and beautification of the station surroundings, ensuring that the station’s historical essence is retained.

The restoration work was recently inspected by Kirendra Nara, the Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) of Katihar Division of the Northeast Frontier Railway.

During the visit, he said: "The Indian Railways is committed to restoring the heritage building to its original form and preserving its historical significance. The project is expected to be completed within the next year."

Noted Siliguri litterateur Gourishankar Bhattacharya praised the Railways for taking steps to safeguard an important part of the city’s history.

Photo: Historic Siliguri Town Railway Station building, a colonial-era structure undergoing restoration under Indian Railways’ heritage conservation project.