The Union Cabinet has approved the construction of third and fourth railway lines between Aluabari Road and New Jalpaiguri under the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR), a move aimed at enhancing rail connectivity and infrastructure in the North-East and eastern parts of India.

The 57-kilometre project is estimated to cost around Rs 17.86 billion and will improve operational efficiency, reduce congestion, and shorten travel time along the heavily used Delhi–Guwahati corridor. The NFR stated that the additional lines will significantly boost both passenger and freight traffic capacity.

The alignment passes through Bihar’s Kishanganj district and West Bengal’s Jalpaiguri, Darjeeling, and Uttar Dinajpur districts, a region considered strategically vital due to its proximity to international borders with Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Nepal.

The infrastructure plan includes seven stations, 99 bridges, three road overbridges, and eight road underbridges. Once operational, the upgraded section is expected to handle an additional 21.6 million tonnes of cargo annually. The project is projected to save around Rs 25.51 billion in logistics costs and conserve approximately 214 million litres of diesel per year.