CM rolls out slew of projects to transform Alipurduar

She was speaking at the concluding programme of the second anniversary of Alipurduar district on Monday evening. The estimated project cost has been pegged at Rs 93 crore and about one lakh people will be benefitted.

The chief minister asked district officials to expedite ongoing projects and directed that work on the new administrative building be wrapped up at the earliest. A new police line is coming up at an estimated cost of Rs 50 lakh. Banerjee said Alipurduar would serve as the model for five districts that would come up soon. Extensive schemes have been drawn up for beautification of the district.

Banerjee will hold an administrative meeting on Tuesday, where senior government officials and  people’s representatives will be in attendance. Earlier on Monday afternoon, the Chief Minister, accompanied by Sports Minister Aroop Biswas and Chief Secretary Basudeb Bandopadhyay , arrived at Bagdogra airport on a four-day North Bengal tour. She reached Alipurduar by road. This is her first visit to North Bengal after Trinamool Congress’ landslide victory in the Assembly election. 

The state Urban Development department has chalked out a comprehensive plan to develop vast areas at Jaigaon at the Indo-Bhutan border and turn it into a commercial hub.

The department has engaged the West Bengal Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO) to prepare a plan and the agency has submitted the first draft report to the department. The agency has carried out an extensive survey in the area.

Jaigaon is an area with tremendous business potential. For a while now, the Bhutan government has been requesting the state government to construct a second Indo-Bhutan gate, in addition to the one in Phuentsholing, a border town in southern Bhutan. Jaigaon is densely populated, with a population of more 86,000, and the state government will construct the second Indo-Bhutan gate here. The area used to be highly congested because of a popular market. The market has now been shifted and construction firm Mackintosh Burn Ltd has been assigned to construct the gate.

The Urban Development department has proposed to set up a mini township spread over 50-60 acres, which used to be the erstwhile Gopimohun tea estate. The state government acquired possession of the tea estate after a lengthy legal battle.

Thousands of labourers visit Phuentsholing and its neighbourhood via Jaigaon daily. Once planned development takes place, the entire area could emerge as a business hub.