Union minister of road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari on Thursday gave a detailed account of some of the proposed centrally-funded infrastructure projects in Bengal at a time when the Trinamul Congress government accused the Centre of meting out a step-motherly treatment to the state.
Gadkari was here on Thursday to lay the foundation stone of a 13km-long fourlane road that would connect the northeast and northwest ends of Siliguri.
“We are coming up with four expressways, on which a sum of Rs one lakh crores would be spent. All these are greenfield expressways. The new roads will also encourage fresh investments in Bengal and can pave the way for the creation of employment and the improvement of socio-economic conditions across the state,” Gadkari told newspersons.
The four projects include the Kharagpur-Moregram (230km) four-lane expressway, which can help vehicles from Odisha and southern states bypass Calcutta to reach north Bengal and the Northeast.
The other three expressways are between Gorakhpur and Siliguri (510 km); Varanasi and Howrah (620km); and Raxaul and Haldia (700km).
The minister’s comments assume significance as the Trinamul establishment has been accusing the Centre of not releasing funds for the state as part of a plot to cripple Bengal’s economy.
Gadkar didn’t engage in any war of words with the state government but made it clear that New Delhi was awaiting cooperation from Bengal.
“Our plan is to start the work next year. We have also made it clear that unless the acquisition of 90 per cent of the required land is done, we will not commence the work. We believe the Bengal government, along with the elected representatives, will carry out the acquisition work. The central government will provide appropriate compensation to those from whom land would be taken,” the minister added.
A number of government projects, especially roads, have been delayed in different parts of Bengal because of the Mamata government’s unwillingness to forcibly take over private land.
Told about the problem, Gadkari said: “We hope to get necessary cooperation from the state government. If land acquisition, evacuation of people and allied works like clearance from certain departments are done on time, we can promptly take up the projects. There is no dearth of funds.”
Gadkari advised the state government to start drawing up plans to set up infrastructure along the expressways.
He announced the construction of an 80km-long ring road around Siliguri at an expenditure of Rs 3,000 crore. “We will also build a four-lane road from Sevoke army cantonment to the Coronation bridge by spending another Rs 1,400 crore. A second bridge of 6.4km parallel to the Coronation Bridge will be built over the Teesta. We have allotted Rs 1,100 crore for it.”
Gadkari also inaugurated virtually two road overbridges in Jalpaiguri district, two bypasses in North Dinajpur district and a four-lane stretch of a highway in East Midnapore district. He laid the foundation stones of a 162km road that will connect Panagarh with Dankuni and a four-lane bypass in Purulia.
Minister falls sick
Gadkari fell sick while he was attending the inauguration programme at Dagapur Ground in Siliguri. The minister was soon escorted to a green room that was built next to the dais. A health team led by a deputy chief medical officer of health rushed to the spot. P.D. Bhutia, a prominent physician of the city, was also called in.
Chief minister Mamata Banerjee, who came to know about Gadkari’s illness, instructed administrative and police officials to take appropriate steps for his treatment.
“He was feeling uneasy because of exhaustion but recovered in due course. We carried out some basic tests, including ECG. He has taken necessary medicines. We have advised him to take some rest,” Bhutia said after examining the Union minister.
Additional reporting by Bireswar Banerjee
