Gadkari inaugurates 3 national highway projects worth ₹1,206 cr in Siliguri , 2 NH projects worth Rs. 1082 Crore at Raiganj, West Bengal

PTI & Agencies, New Delhi: Union minister for Road, Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari on Thursday inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for three national highway projects worth ₹1,206 crore in Siliguri, West Bengal.

Addressing the occasion, the minister said that the inaugurated projects include two-lane ROB in replacement of level crossing at km 615.5 of NH-31 (Oodlabari) and would give significant boost to international connectivity & ROB in lieu of level crossing at km 661.100 on NH-31 (Maynaguri).

“It will help to reduce accidents due to improved safety features and bring down travelling distance and time," he added.

Gadkari said that the development of these projects will lead to industrial & economic growth in West Bengal as well as eastern parts of India with significant inroads for the agricultural sector.

“Giving a major fillip to traffic decongestion in Siliguri, the foundation Stone was laid today for the development to 12-km long 4/6 lane Elevated Highway Corridor connecting Balason, Shiva Mandir to Sevoke Army Cantonment of NH-31 (New NH-10) with both side service roads from km 569.258 to km 581.030 (end of AH-02 project on NH- 31 near Shivmandir to Sevoke Army Cantonment)," said the Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways in a press release. 

This project being constructed at a cost of Rs 995 crores will see the development of two Elevated Corridors, two large bridges, two small bridges, six underpasses, one road over bridge and service roads. Along with this, the project will realign seven accident prone ‘black spots’ to make the stretch accident free. This road will help ease up traffic problems in and around Siliguri City, Darjeeling More, Matigara, 2-mile, Sevoke Army Cantonment and Salugara stretch.

Along with this project, today Nitin ji also announced the approval of another dream project of mine – Siliguri Ring Road project, for which the Ministry has allocated Rs 3000 crores for 80km long Ring Road, and that the work for this will commence from 2023.

It will boost connectivity to northeast India and neighbouring countries like Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh, the ministry added.

Gadkari also announced that a bridge on the Teesta River will soon be built at the cost of ₹1,100 crore, adding that other infrastructure projects are in the pipeline.

Earlier in the day, Gadkari inaugurated a highway that is slated to reduce travel time between Delhi and Bihar by at least 10-15 hours.

The 92-km-long four-lane highway connects south Bihar with the national capital Delhi via Purvanchal Expressway in Uttar Pradesh.

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Shri Nitin Gadkari  inaugurated 2 NH projects worth Rs. 1082 Crore at Raiganj, West Bengal. Shri Gadkari said fulfilling the 60 years old demand of the people of Dalkhola (NH-34), this 5 km & 4-lane bypass built at the total cost of Rs. 120 Crore, will finally solve the traffic problem in Dalkhola town now. Apart from this, the travel time from Siliguri to Kolkata will reduce by two hours due to the construction of bypass and ROB. This stretch will also improve movement along border areas of Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, he added.

The minister said built at the total cost of Rs. 962 Crore, the 4-laning of Raniganj to Dalkhola stretch has improved the overall connectivity between West Medinipur till borders of Bangladesh. This stretch will also enhance connectivity between Bengal & North Eastern Region.

He also inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for 4 NH projects worth Rs. 5351 Crore in West Medinipur, West Bengal today in the presence of MPs Shri  Raju Bista and Shri Jayanta Roy. 

The project that was dedicated to the nation today included the construction of 55 km Kharagpur to Chichra 4-lane road stretch at the total cost of Rs. 613 Cr. Development of this stretch will go a long way in ensuring the progress and prosperity of the surrounding tribal areas.

Foundation stone was laid also for construction of 162 km Panagarh to Dankuni (NH-2) 6-lane road stretch at total cost of Rs. 4215 Crore. The construction of this route will enhance connectivity to Sikkim, Bhutan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and the Bay of Bengal.

Foundation stone was also laid for 10 km 4-lane Purulia bypass at the total cost of Rs. 175 Crore that will be completed by December 2023. 

The construction of this bypass will solve the traffic problems inside the city and the vehicles going to Durgapur, Asansol, Bokaro Dhanbad, Jamshedpur and Ranchi, will also save their travelling time, distance and cost.

Under the visionary leadership of PM Shri Narendra Modi, GoI is actively committed towards strengthening connectivity in West Bengal and bringing prosperity to the people of the state, release adds.