Siliguri, West Bengal – Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw conducted an on-site inspection of the ongoing redevelopment works at New Jalpaiguri (NJP) Railway Station in Siliguri today, as part of the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme.
Accompanied by Darjeeling MP Raju Bista and senior railway officials, the Minister reviewed the progress of the transformative project, which is fully funded by the Central Government at approximately Rs 500 crore. The initiative aims to upgrade NJP into a world-class facility, better serving commuters from Darjeeling hills, Terai, Dooars, North Bengal, and the Northeast region.
During the visit, Vaishnaw interacted with railway staff and gathered feedback on operations. Officials highlighted that the redevelopment will double the station’s daily passenger handling capacity from the current 60,000 to 1.2 lakh, addressing growing travel demands and improving efficiency.
The Amrit Bharat Station Scheme focuses on modernizing key railway stations across India with enhanced infrastructure, amenities, and connectivity. NJP, a vital hub for the region, is among the stations prioritized for these upgrades.
In related developments, the Minister’s visit comes ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s flag-off of nearly 12 new trains in West Bengal tomorrow, including India’s first Vande Bharat Sleeper train. Additionally, nine new Amrit Bharat Express trains are set to be introduced soon, connecting routes such as Kamakhya-Rohtak, Dibrugarh-Gomti Nagar, New Jalpaiguri-Tiruchirapalli, and others, further boosting rail connectivity in the Northeast and beyond.
