HIT projects set to boost infrastructure in Howrah

The 62-year-old organisation, whose area of operation was earlier restricted only within the Howrah city and its vicinity, is now carrying out works across the district.

Though the jurisdiction of HIT was extended throughout the district following an amendment of the concerned act in 1995, the agency had hardly got any major scope to carry out development projects in the rural parts, due to the lackadaisical attitude of the erstwhile Left Front government.

After coming to power in 2011, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had infused a fresh gush of adrenaline in HIT and with a set of experienced engineers, the improvement trust has taken up several projects in both the rural and urban parts of the district, which is a gateway to the city by road and rail.

Besides a series of projects in Howrah city, the improvement trust has taken up the project to construct roads, culverts and several other facilities in the rural parts of the district.

HIT Chairman Sultan Singh, who has had a deep-rooted connection with Howrah district for the past few decades, said: "Besides developing necessary infrastructure in the urban parts, HIT has also done many development works for the rural parts of the district and there are many projects which are still going on."

One of the major tasks that have been undertaken by HIT, is construction of roads in different rural and semi-rural parts of the district, including Panchla, Uluberia, Bally-Jagacha, Domjur and Sankrail.

The improvement trust has taken up projects to construct hundreds of kilometers of roads in the areas. Both concrete and bitumen roads will be constructed. Many of the roads have already been constructed and construction of many more roads is going on in full swing.

Roads have been constructed at such places in rural Howrah, where the local people had never dreamt of "pakka" road in their area.

At the same time, HIT has constructed culverts at many places, besides taking up a project for a better sewerage system.

Moreover, HIT has also identified many plots owned by it, which were lying unused. But no timely step was taken during the regime of the erstwhile government.

As a result, HIT is now taking all necessary measures, so that the land can be properly used. Steps have already been taken to construct boundary walls around such plots.