User:North Siliguri/sandbox

North Siliguri is the northern region of Siliguri Metropolitan City. It is by far the developed areas of Siliguri Metropolitan City. Mainly the development happened in this region in an around 1987. This is the year when the most coveted football tournament (During that time) Jawaharlal Nehru Cup happened in the city at Kanchenjunga Stadium (the then Tilak Maidan Stadium). This is the time when the small town rose from a sleepy area to a bustling city. Later more areas were added to it and in the year 1994, the city saw itself to be the first Municipal Corporation of North Bengal i.e. Siliguri Municipal Corporation. Since then there is no looking back. The North Siliguri region comprises prominently among the areas like Hakimpara, Ashrampara, Punjabi Para, Pradhan Nagar, Hill Cart Road, Bidhan Road, Sevok Road etc. It was about to be called as Old Siliguri but later some more areas like 2nd Mile, Check Post, Champasari, Dukuria etc. areas were also added to North Siliguri region. Uttorayon Township is one of the most sophisticated residential cum commercial township of this region. The addition of areas prevented the region to be known as Old Siliguri because of its potentiality to be a developed city.

The sovereignty of India in 1947 provided a roar for the increase of the town with the nonstop streams of inflow of immigrants from Bangladesh. Siliguri, especially North Siliguri is also revived as the most susceptible nodal point in the narrow passage that links the North Eastern States with the rest of India. Assam rail link in 1951 and broad gauge railway links with New Jalpaiguri Junction railway station (Now located in South Siliguri) in 1962 cemented the way for its indisputable superiority as a primary trading Centre not only for Assam but also for Bhutan, Sikkim, and Eastern Nepal as well. The Chinese violence in 1962 and the announcement of the State of Emergency in India put the town especially North Siliguri on the strategic map of India with transformed significance.

Business and Trade of North Siliguri
North Siliguri’s closeness to the international borders is with Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, and also China. This has made North Siliguri of a tactical importance. In respect of trade, commerce, and tourist traffic North Siliguri engages a tremendous significant position for Bangladesh, Assam, Nepal, and Sikkim in comparison to South Siliguri. The tactical position of North Siliguri in the transportation network of North Eastern India has helped in its growth as a primary trade and distribution centers of the city as well as the entire North Bengal. However, North Siliguri is more into Road network than railways and airways.

Infrastructure of North Siliguri
North Siliguri till now a most developed zone of Siliguri city. Considering the rapid growth of the city and inadequate facilities, the entire city of Siliguri, including North and South Siliguri was fetched under I.U.D.P programme in 1981 and some immediately needed schemes were taken up which provided some instant respite in the infrastructure facilities and civic services of both North and South Siliguri. The gush of transportation and business activities is also noticeable. With the quick increase in population and activities, the urban facilities and services were falling far too short of the requirement. The Municipal capital and annual state funding are not matching to the growing need of North Siliguri. As such North Siliguri is in need of much short-term Development Plan at least to cope up with the immediate essential needs.

Rail Route
New Jalpaiguri station remains the nearest biggest railway station for reaching North Siliguri. Apart from it, Siliguri Town and Siliguri Junction are the two railway stations of North Siliguri. If DHR is concerned, then North Siliguri is also directly connected with Darjeeling by the toy train. Moreover, North Siliguri is connected with directly Assam and North East through Dooars route.

Road Route
If Road route is concerned North Siliguri is well connected with road network directly to North East, Sikkim, Nepal, Bhutan, and Rest of India. All the three bus stands are located in North Siliguri i.e. Tenzing Norgay Bus Terminus at Pradhan Nagar, P.C. Mittal Bus Terminus at Sevoke Road and Siliguri Local Bus Stand at Court More. The roadway network of North Siliguri is far better than South Siliguri.

Airways
There are no airports located in North Siliguri. However, the nearest airport to North Siliguri is Bagdogra Airport. Recently, the airport has been upgraded to an International Airport. Currently, the airport is facing a space crunch due to heavy traffic.

Domestic Transportation
Once, in the past North Siliguri was famous for Rickshaws. The entire domestic transportation was dependent on this human-pulled cycle rickshaw. However, after the passage of time, there came the City-autos. Colloquially it was called as Vikram Auto based on the name of the manufacturer i.e. Bajaj Vikrant. Much later the Electric rickshaw or locally it is known as Toto, was introduced. However, due to the adverse traffic system, the domestic transport is presently in a mess. Jams, roadblocks etc. are part and parcel of North Siliguri.