Bengal to spend `12,180 cr more on infra push: Mamata

Kolkata: In a major push to infrastructure development in the state, the Mamata Banerjee government has decided to spend Rs 12,180 crore in addition to Rs 20,155 crore allocated in this year's budget for the purpose.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said at the state Secretariat (Nabanna) on Friday that as many as 12 flyovers will be built along with a complete overhaul of power distribution system, bridges, flyovers and various other projects. She further said that the government had sent a proposal to the Railway ministry for a bullet train linking Andal in Durgapur with Kolkata.

"We will spend an additional Rs 12,180 crore for the construction of roads, bridges, flyovers, water project, electrification and warehouse for storage of foodgrains in the next two to three years. A committee has been formed under the Chief Secretary for monitoring them," Banerjee told reporters.

She maintained that Bengal has been marching ahead despite financial constraints. "Development cannot take place without infrastructure. Once these projects are complete, Bengal will attain the golden era," she added.

The government is allocating Rs 6,195 crore extra to the state Public Works Department (PWD) and Rs 2,862 extra to the Urban Development and Municipal Affairs Department. Rs 850crores will be given to West Bengal Warehouse Corporation for constructing warehouses to store foodgrain.

The various new projects that will be taken up by the PWD department includes four-laning of the Kalyani Expressway and Belgharia Expressway connectivity, Kolkata-Basanti Road up to Ghatakpukur, four-laning of Bankura-Durgapur Road, flyover at Manicktala crossing along AJC Bose Road, flyover over Ganesh Chandra Avenue, New Market towards M G Road crossing, flyover from Tartala to Jadavpur Phanri via Prince Anwar Shah Road.

Work to be undertaken by the Urban Development department includes construction of giant wheel at the city's riverside Millenium Park, trans-municipal water supply scheme for Dankuni, Uttarpara, Konnagar, Rishra, Sreerampore, Baidyabati.

In the power sector, the government is allocating as much as Rs 2,273 crore. "Three units of the Kolaghat Thermal Power Station will be renovated and modernised along with two units of Sagardighi and Kolaghat (Unit 1).

"The Dum Dum Airport is gradually getting exhausted. So we are developing Andal airport in Durgapur. We have sent a proposal to the Centre for a bullet train connecting Andal with the city. A passenger from the Andal airport can commute within 45 minutes to the city by bullet train," Banerjee said.