A new bus terminus was inaugurated at Tinbatti More on Wednesday, marking a significant step toward reducing traffic congestion in Siliguri by streamlining bus operations across the city. Spanning four acres, this facility is the city’s third terminus, joining the Tenzing Norgay Central Bus Terminus and the PCM Bus Terminus.
The project, a collaboration between the Siliguri Municipal Corporation (SMC) and the state transport department, was inaugurated by Siliguri Mayor Gautam Deb. “The local bus stand will be relocated here. The Darjeeling district magistrate will soon meet with bus operators to finalise the transition,” said Deb during the event.
The terminus, built at a cost of ₹2.58 crore, features 15 bus bays and a toilet block. The North Bengal State Transport Corporation (NBSTC) has already launched bus services on four routes: Pahargumia, Panitanki, Kharibari, and Naxalbari. Plans are underway to expand services to Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar, Cooch Behar, and other areas.
“This shift will help decongest Siliguri’s main roads,” stated a civic body source.
The facility’s development will also include lighting infrastructure, with ₹40 lakh allocated by the state power department for illumination. Mayor Deb highlighted additional traffic management initiatives in collaboration with the transport department.
In a related effort, long-distance buses travelling to Bihar and Assam will be moved to Paribahan Nagar in Matigara, on the northern outskirts of Siliguri. The Siliguri Jalpaiguri Development Authority and the state municipal affairs department plan to invest ₹2 crore to enhance infrastructure at Paribahan Nagar, aiming to further streamline vehicular movement in the city.
