'Namo Bharat Rapid Rail' may soon connect Siliguri to key towns, says Darjeeling MP Raju Bista

Darjeeling MP Raju Bista has said that the Union Railway Ministry is considering introducing the Namo Bharat Rapid Rail service in the Siliguri region in the future. This came after Bista received a written reply from Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in response to his earlier request for better rail connectivity in North Bengal.

In July, Bista had met Vaishnaw in New Delhi and asked for the introduction of the Namo Bharat system to connect Siliguri with surrounding towns. He proposed three routes — Siliguri to Malda via Bagdogra, Naxalbari, Khoribari, Bidhannagar, Chopra, Islampur, and Raiganj; Siliguri to Hashimara via Sevoke, Bagrakote, Oodlabari, Mal Bazar, Chalsa, Nagrakata, Banarhat, and Birpara; and in the future, Siliguri to Rangpo once the Sevoke–Rangpo rail line is ready.

In his reply, Vaishnaw said that Namo Bharat is a new-generation regional train that has already undergone successful trials. The minister noted that the public response has been positive and that production of the trains will soon be increased. He assured that the routes from Siliguri to Malda, Hashimara, and Rangpo will be taken up for consideration after production ramps up.

Bista said the project will be a big boost for Siliguri and the wider North Bengal region. The high-speed rail service will give people a faster, safer, and eco-friendly travel option, reducing travel time and easing the heavy traffic on the roads in and around Siliguri.

Expressing his gratitude, Bista said, “I am thankful to the Railway Minister for keeping our region on priority for the Namo Bharat system. Once introduced, it will greatly improve connectivity and convenience for our people.”

If approved, the Namo Bharat Rapid Rail could become one of the most significant infrastructure projects for North Bengal in recent years, linking Siliguri with key towns and creating a modern transport network in the region.