Raju Bista asks Mamata Banerjee to approve Ring Road for Siliguri, cites growing traffic crisis

Raju Bista, Member of Parliament from Darjeeling and national spokesperson of the BJP, has written to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and asked her to give immediate approval for the alignment of a proposed Ring Road around Siliguri. He expressed deep concern over what he called “repeated and needless delays” by the state government in moving this important infrastructure project forward.

In his letter, Bista told the Chief Minister that Siliguri is not only the second largest city in the state, but also one of India’s fastest-growing urban areas. Despite this, the city continues to suffer from severe traffic congestion on a daily basis. According to Bista, this is causing serious inconvenience to the public, particularly school children and patients who are often caught in long traffic jams that can last for hours.

“This growing gridlock is not just a matter of daily discomfort—it is affecting the entire region’s growth potential,” Bista said. He said that the Ring Road is essential for improving transportation in and around Siliguri, and will help the city grow in a more planned and organized manner. “With a proper bypass road, we can ease the burden on Siliguri’s narrow city roads and allow development to spread to newer areas,” he added.

The proposed Ring Road project is expected to benefit not only the city itself but also the larger region. Siliguri is the gateway to the hills and North East India, connecting Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Sikkim, Dooars, Jalpaiguri and other districts. “A well-connected road network will help smoothen the traffic coming from these areas and reduce the current bottlenecks,” Bista said.

He also said that the central government has already allocated Rs 3,500 crore for the Ring Road. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) had officially sent a proposal to the West Bengal Government seeking consent for alignment on November 4, 2023 and followed up with a reminder on December 19, 2024. But even after these communications, the state government has not yet granted the required approval.

Bista said that such delay is holding back the region’s progress and creating unnecessary hardship for the people of Siliguri, Darjeeling Hills, Terai and the Dooars. “Every passing day of delay means another day of suffering for our people,” he said.

He appealed to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to intervene personally and expedite the approval process. “The Ring Road is not a political issue; it is a matter of public welfare,” Bista said.