The Siliguri Jalpaiguri Development Authority (SJDA) in May 2002 initiated action for formulating a comprehensive agenda of strategies and actions – Perspective Plan for the development of Siliguri Jalpaiguri Planning Area. UNICEF came forward to promote this action by providing the fund. The expertise of Department of Architecture and Regional Planning, I.I.T Kharagpur, was sought by the SJDA to prepare the Perspective Plan 2025, through an interactive participatory process with the stakeholders.

It serves as the distribution and collection centre for the entire region, which is rich in natural and human resources. The total planning area for which perspective plan prepared was 1267 sq. kilometres consisting of Siliguri and Jalpaiguri municipal area and the C.D. blocks of Matigara, Naxalbari, a part of Phansidewa, Rajganj and Japlaiguri, with population (2001) of 1.58 million. Subsequently the planning area has been expanded.