‘Four-lane construction of NH 34 in Raiganj to restart soon’

Raiganj: Construction of four lane National Highway (NH) 34 at Madhupur in Raiganj of North Dinajpur district will restart soon after the shifting of a Kali temple.

Around a 7 km bypass four lane road construction from Rupahar to Barduari in Raiganj had started almost four years ago. The road construction was nearly complete however at Madhupur, near Barduari, a Kali temple on the road created an obstruction. Finally the temple is now being shifted following which construction will resume.

When the construction agency initiated a move to remove the temple, the locals launched an agitation opposing the shifting of the temple. The construction agency then stopped the work in February 2023. In the last eight months, several rounds of talks were held by the construction agency with the locals but in vain. However, recently, the locals have given their consent with work on the road having come to a halt for so long. The process of shifting the temple has started.

Ajay Barman, a resident of Madhupur said: “The Goddess is called ‘Ranakali’. People believe the demolition of the temple might invite the wrath of the Goddess. Our temple has 6 decimals of land. Five decimals of the land fell within the alignment of the road. Considering the development of the locality, we want to shift the temple to the 1 decimal land that will remain. The priest of our temple also consented. We have allowed the road construction on the 5 decimal of the temple plot.”

Souvik Bhowmick, the manager of the construction agency said: “On the course of road construction, a Kali temple was on the path so we stopped work for around eight months. Recently, with the assistance of police we held a talk with the locals and they consented to shift the temple to a nearby location. We have initiated the temple shifting process. Very soon the road construction will restart.”