Jalpaiguri, November 29 (Siliguri Chronicle) – The central government has raised the budget for upgrading New Jalpaiguri (NJP) station, a key railway hub in the region.
“The project, taken up under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, was initially sanctioned at ₹334 crore, but the cost has been revised to around ₹500 crore to accommodate additional public conveniences and passenger amenities,” said Raju Bista, Darjeeling MP.
On Friday, Bista reviewed the ongoing redevelopment work at NJP station, saying the upgraded facility will turn it into a world-class transit hub serving the Darjeeling hills, Terai, Dooars, North Bengal, and the Northeast.
He added that the station’s handling capacity will double from 60,000 passengers a day to 1.2 lakh once the expansion is complete.
“This upgrade is crucial for meeting the region’s growing travel demand and ensuring smoother operations for commuters,” he added.
Parts of the arrival and departure areas are expected to be ready by March 2026, with the entire project slated for completion by March 2027.
The redesigned station will feature an airport-style terminal with a spacious air concourse, modern waiting lounges, and a sleek glass facade. The plan includes 12 escalators, 10 lifts, wider platforms, better lighting, and separate arrival and departure zones to reduce congestion, the MP added.
A dedicated section for the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) is also planned, allowing tourists to board the world-heritage toy train to Darjeeling.
The station will include sustainability features such as solar power and eco-friendly systems, along with enhanced CCTV surveillance and a larger parking area, Bista said.
The review meeting was attended by Dabgram–Fulbari MLA Sikha Chatterjee, DRM Katihar Kirendra Narah, ARDM Ajay Singh, and other senior railway officials.
