Gautam Deb, the mayor of Siliguri, and Udayan Guha, the north Bengal development minister, launched a slew of projects and services in their home turfs of Siliguri and Cooch Behar on Monday.

While Deb introduced new bus services, gave away land rights to 240 persons and laid the foundation stone of a road in Siliguri, Guha initiated the work of five projects for which the state will spend around Rs 86 crore.

In Siliguri, the mayor launched five new bus services, including two city buses.

“Today (Monday), we introduced city bus services in two routes of Siliguri and its surrounding areas in association with the North Bengal State Transport Corporation (NBSTC). People across Siliguri and visitors can avail bus services,” said Deb.

The buses will run in two routes — New Jalpaiguri (NJP) railway station-Milan More (in the north of the city) and NJP-Salugara (northeast of Siliguri).

In Siliguri, city buses used to run earlier. However, for almost a decade such buses stopped running in the city. “We revived the service,” the mayor said.

He also inaugurated three bus services of the NBSTC from the Tenzing Norgay Central Bus Terminus. These buses will run to Krishnanagar and Ranchi from here.

“Two more AC buses will be introduced in the Siliguri-Calcutta route,” said Deb.

As of now, 143 NBSTC buses run from Siliguri to different destinations.

Deb handed over land rights to 240 residents of the city, inaugurated an ambulance service in New Jalpaiguri and laid the foundation of a new road in ward 46 at Mallaguri.

In Cooch Behar, the minister Guha, along with Avijit De Bhowmik, a civic councillor and the director of West Bengal Pulpwood Development Corporation Limited, initiated the work of five projects in Cooch Behar north and south Assembly segments.

In 2021, Trinamul lost both the seats to the BJP.

“At five road projects, paver blocks will be used to make roads. Sheds of two major rural markets will be constructed and certain additional facilities created for traders. The north Bengal development department will spend around Rs 86 crore for these projects,” Guha said.

Trinamul insiders in Cooch Behar said that ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, the party wanted to be seen as invested in the development in north Bengal despite electoral losses. "BJP leaders only make empty promises. The Trinamul state government carries out development work for people,” said Guha.