There is good news for passengers on trains, especially for citizens of Siliguri and the surrounding areas. Under various development schemes, the Railway Ministry has developed plans for the grading and renovation of Indian Railway stations. New Jalpaiguri station under the N. F. Railway has been identified as one of the 204 stations that have to be improved with top-notch features to provide better, more amenities for passengers.
The upgrade project is already in progress. The MCO office and UTS Cum PRS counters are being relocated. Additionally, the current parking area will be moved to a new location. The offices of RMS and Parcel will also be relocated. To prepare the site for the start of the civil construction works as scheduled, old structures such as the front shop sections, offices, etc. in the main station building are to be demolished.
To provide passengers with an airport-like experience and comfort at the same time, the station is being built with ultra-modern amenities such as a huge covered parking area, 24×7 power backup, drinking water, air-conditioned offices, hotels, stores, high-speed escalators, and lifts. The station will have an 82-meter wide and 72-meter long central air concourse.
To prevent accidents or overcrowding, this will ensure that there is little traffic and loading on the platforms. There will be a complete separation of passengers on their way in and out. Through the planned station user movement and additional new foot-over bridges, a smooth flow of passengers shall be ensured.
The proposed departure lobby would be accessible by an elevated driveway that would rise above ground level by more than 9 metres. Additionally, a road connecting the proposed ground level with the arrival lobby has been suggested. Users of the station will have designated pick-up and drop-off parking areas. There will also be parking for cars, two-wheelers, rickshaws, taxis, and buses.
A distinct Green Podium will exist. After all station upgrades are finished, the station will be capable of handling an increase in daily passenger traffic from the current 36,000 to around 73,000. The total anticipated cost of upgrading the New Jalpaiguri station is estimated to be Rs. 334.72 crore.
One of the busiest and largest stations of the N.F. Railway, New Jalpaiguri is a key hub for all the states in the region’s northeast. The Northeastern states use New Jalpaiguri as a platform to connect to the rest of India.
The main city in North Bengal, Siliguri, also known as the gateway to northeast India, has its railway station in New Jalpaiguri. Upgrades to New Jalpaiguri Station will also support the growth of North Bengal’s and Sikkim’s tourism industries, among other local economic sectors. By 2025, the upgrade project is expected to be finished.
Indian Railways’ ongoing process of upgrading and modernizing its stations involves undertaking projects as needed, depending on the availability of land and other resources.
