Siliguri: Centre has approved Rs 2,077 crore for four-laning the 31-km Bagdogra-Panitanki-Kharibari-Galgalia stretch of NH-327 in Darjeeling district, aimed at strengthening connectivity through the strategically important Siliguri Corridor and to the India-Nepal border, Union road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari said on Thursday.The project will require diversion of forest land, drawing objections from the forest department during the environmental clearance process. Five elephant underpasses have been proposed as a mitigation measure to facilitate wildlife movement and reduce human-elephant conflict.In a post on X, Gadkari said the project would include three major bridges, a road overbridge and service roads on both sides.The project is expected to improve connectivity to northeast India and access to Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh, while easing congestion in Bagdogra, Naxalbari, Kharibari and Panitanki. It will also improve access to Bagdogra airport and facilitate faster movement of agricultural, horticultural, tea and other local produce to larger markets.The five elephant underpasses are planned at Sannyasithan, Atal, Panitanki and two locations at Deomani, areas where the highway intersects elephant habitats.Kurseong divisional forest officer Debesh Pandey said the forest department had raised objections during the environmental clearance process as portions of forest land would have to be diverted.“The project proponent, NHAI, will include five underpasses, which were inspected by the CCF, Wildlife, North,” he said.
