Jalpaiguri: Keeping in mind China's infrastructural development on the other side of the border, Indian Railways has decided to lay a new 200-km track from Chalsa in Jalpaiguri to Doklam, on the Indo-China border.
For the first phase, railways has sanctioned Rs 2.92 crore to conduct a final location survey (FLS) from Chalsa to Naxal — a 20-km stretch. Naxal is a small hamlet on the way to Bindu, the last Indian village in Kalimpong ahead of Bhutan. Railways minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed Jalpaiguri MP Jayanta Roy about the sanctioning of the FLS in a recent letter.
This will be the second track to the China border after the Sevoke-Gangtok track. This new track will start from Chalsa in Jalpaiguri, traverse the Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary and Sibchu, and enter Kalimpong district at Kumai.
The new track will also play an essential role during movements of defence forces or supplies.