en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Indian Ministry of Railways has approved funding of Rs 2.72 billion (Rs 2.72 bn) for a new 17-kilometer railway line in the Jaldhaka region of North Bengal. The route is planned to start from Khunia More near Chalsa, passing through the Jalpaiguri and Kalimpong forest divisions. The project aims to improve connectivity in the border area near the India-China-Bhutan tri-junction and boost tourism in the Dooars region.

The Member of Parliament from the Siliguri constituency announced on social media that the line will originate from Khunia More near Chalsa. After the monsoon season ends, the Ministry of Railways will conduct a survey of the proposed route jointly with the West Bengal Forest Department. The MP expressed gratitude to national and state leadership for prioritizing modern infrastructure in the region.

The Jaldhaka River is a transboundary river that flows through the Indian states of Sikkim and West Bengal before entering Bhutan and Bangladesh, with a total length of 186 to 233 kilometers. The river originates from Kupup Lake near the Jelep La pass and eventually joins the Brahmaputra River basin. Building a railway along the river holds strategic significance, as Kupup Lake is located near the Doklam tri-junction border area.

Railway officials stated that the proposed line is expected to improve access to remote border areas, promote tourism, and enhance strategic infrastructure, with survey work planned to commence after the monsoon. This approval is part of a broader border railway plan involving a proposed 200-kilometer strategic line from Chalsa to the border, as well as the potential extension of the Sivok-Rangpo project toward Nathu La. Following the 2017 Doklam standoff, the area remains sensitive, with ongoing infrastructure activity on the other side of the border, while Indian authorities are concurrently advancing transport connectivity integration in this region.