Archive · 4 Sep 2026
Centre Approves Four-Lane Highway Through Strategic Siliguri Corridor
India plans to build a wider highway through the Siliguri Corridor.
The road will connect Bagdogra with Galgalia through Panitanki and Kharibari.
It will be about 31 kilometres long and cost Rs 2,077.18 crore.
The road will have four lanes, bridges and a road overbridge.
It will also have five special passages for elephants.
These passages are intended to reduce the danger of elephants being hit by vehicles.
The highway should make travel and the movement of farm and tea products easier.
The project is also part of larger plans to improve the important route to northeast India.
The Centre approved Rs 2,077.18 crore to four-lane 31.02 kilometres of NH-327.
The Bagdogra-Galgalia route will pass through Panitanki and Kharibari, largely parallel to NH-27.
The project includes three major bridges, one road overbridge, five elephant underpasses and service roads.
Officials say the highway will reduce congestion and improve access to northeast India, Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh.
The project is part of wider efforts to strengthen transport and strategic infrastructure through the Siliguri Corridor.
- Who
- The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and Darjeeling MP Raju Bista.
- What
- Approval of a Rs 2,077.18-crore project to four-lane the 31.02-kilometre Bagdogra-Galgalia section of NH-327.
- When
- Nitin Gadkari announced the approval on a Thursday; the articles do not provide a calendar date.
- Where
- Through the Siliguri Corridor, connecting Bagdogra with Galgalia via Panitanki and Kharibari in West Bengal and Bihar.
- Why
- To improve regional and strategic connectivity, reduce congestion, support goods movement and provide safer crossings for elephants.
Connectivity and Development
Strategic Security and Resilience
Primary purpose
Connectivity and Development
Government representatives emphasize reduced congestion, better airport access and faster movement of agricultural, horticultural, tea and other local products.
Strategic Security and Resilience
A retired army officer and the reporting describe the parallel highway as potentially important for strengthening an alternative route through the strategically sensitive corridor.
Wildlife protection
Connectivity and Development
Forest officials say the five underpasses could reduce the risk of elephants being killed or injured by speeding vehicles.
Strategic Security and Resilience
The articles do not report opposition to the underpasses, but note that elephant crossings are frequent in marked zones, especially during paddy harvesting.
- Approved cost
- Rs 2,077.18 crore
- Highway
- National Highway 327
- Project length
- 31.02 kilometres
- Route
- Bagdogra-Panitanki-Kharibari-Galgalia
- Major structures
- Three major bridges and one road overbridge
- Wildlife measures
- Five elephant underpasses
- Additional infrastructure
- Service roads on both sides of the highway
- Regional purpose
- Improved links to northeast India, Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh
