In a push to ease traffic congestion ahead of the Durga Puja rush, Siliguri’s long-delayed Burdwan Road flyover is now slated for completion by August. Authorities have also confirmed road widening works on the critical Nivedita Road, a parallel route to Hill Cart Road. These developments are expected to significantly decongest city arteries during the festive season and beyond, offering commuters relief from chronic jams and strengthening connectivity across the rapidly growing urban landscape.
After years of delay, the 1.1-kilometre Burdwan Road flyover in Siliguri is finally nearing completion, with its opening now scheduled ahead of the high-traffic Durga Puja season. Originally launched in 2018 under the public works department, the project faced multiple setbacks—ranging from pandemic-related disruptions to land clearance issues—that stalled progress. The flyover, considered vital for decongesting one of Siliguri’s busiest corridors, saw its project cost escalate from ₹44.85 crore to ₹68.75 crore. Once operational, it is expected to streamline traffic on Burdwan Road and improve flow toward central Siliguri. Experts believe the flyover will not only serve daily commuters but also support seasonal demand during festivals when traffic volumes spike. The project’s completion is seen as a critical intervention in Siliguri’s overstressed road network, offering a long-overdue infrastructural upgrade. With final touches underway, civic engineers and contractors are reportedly working on accelerated timelines to meet the August deadline.
In tandem with the flyover, Siliguri’s authorities are initiating a major expansion of Nivedita Road—another key arterial link that runs through Gurung Busty and Pradhan Nagar. Serving as an alternative to the heavily trafficked Hill Cart Road, the stretch has seen preparatory clearance of over 100 encroachments, including informal structures and roadside stalls. Planners aim to extend the road towards Gulma via Champasari, enhancing interconnectivity between suburban pockets and core city areas. Although major construction is scheduled to begin post-Puja, initial groundwork is in progress to ease upcoming festival congestion. Urban mobility experts have long emphasised the importance of widening this route, as it absorbs overflow from the main highway and acts as a bypass during peak hours. The coordinated efforts between agencies indicate a broader strategy to reinforce Siliguri’s transport spine amid rapid population growth, increasing vehicle load, and seasonal spikes in footfall linked to tourism and regional commerce.
The Burdwan Road flyover and Nivedita Road widening projects mark significant progress in addressing Siliguri’s enduring traffic bottlenecks. With completion aligned to coincide with Durga Puja, these infrastructural upgrades promise to reduce delays, ease commuter stress, and offer more efficient urban mobility during one of the city’s busiest times. As authorities push for better transport infrastructure, residents can expect smoother navigation across vital city corridors. However, experts stress the importance of long-term planning, maintenance, and integrated traffic management to sustain these gains and ensure that Siliguri’s urban growth is supported by resilient and responsive road infrastructure.