Rajya Sabha MP and former Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla unveils Vibrant Siliguri–Vision 2047, a comprehensive roadmap to transform Siliguri into a national hub for development, connectivity, education, healthcare, and innovation, leveraging its strategic location in India’s regional and global outreach.
Harsh Vardhan Shringla Unveils Vibrant Siliguri-Vision 2047
Darjeeling: Member of Parliament and former Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla today unveiled Vibrant Siliguri-Vision 2047, a comprehensive roadmap aimed at transforming Siliguri from a transit gateway into a national hub of development, connectivity, and innovation.
The Vision Document was presented by the Siliguri Citizens' Forum at a program organized at Hotel Highland on Sevoke Road, in the presence of policymakers, industry representatives, civil society members, and citizens.
Highlighting Siliguri's strategic location as the gateway to North-East India and its proximity to Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and China, Shringla said that the city holds a central place in India's Act East Policy, Neighborhood First Approach, and Indo-Pacific Outlook, making its focused development a national priority.
This roadmap outlines priority interventions in infrastructure, education, healthcare, urban mobility, and border management.
Key proposals include the establishment of a central university and prestigious institutions to address the shortage of skilled human resources in the region, as well as establishing AIIMS-level health facilities to reduce dependency on Kolkata for advanced treatment.
The vision also proposes developing Siliguri as a Smart City, along with the construction of elevated expressways to ease traffic congestion. Plans include cable car connectivity to the hills to boost tourism and mobility, and the introduction of an MRTS (Mass Rapid Transit System) to strengthen urban transport and regional connectivity.
