Mamata Banerjee Announces Major Rural Housing Push, Inaugurates Over 360 Development Projects worth 440 cr in North Bengal

KalimNews | May 20, 2025 | Siliguri : Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, during her administrative visit to North Bengal, announced an ambitious expansion of the state-run rural housing initiative ‘Banglar Bari (Gramin)’, committing to the construction of 16 lakh new homes in the upcoming phase. The declaration was made at a public distribution programme held at the Helipad Ground in Fulbari, Jalpaiguri, on Tuesday.

Speaking to thousands of beneficiaries, the Chief Minister highlighted that 12 lakh families have already been supported under the scheme across two phases, with each receiving ₹1.2 lakh for home construction. She assured that those still awaiting assistance would be included in the next phase, underlining the state’s dedication to inclusive development funded entirely through its own resources. The first installment for the next phase is scheduled for December 2025, with the second following in May 2026.

Additionally, 131 flood-affected families from Laltang Basti and Chamakdangi in Jalpaiguri have been rehabilitated in a newly built colony, which the Chief Minister named ‘Teesta Pally’.

Addressing challenges faced by farmers due to adverse weather during the current Rabi season, Banerjee announced that over ₹158 crore is being directly credited to the accounts of more than one lakh potato farmers across the state. Since its inception in 2019, the Bangla Shasya Bima crop insurance scheme has disbursed over ₹3,720 crore to affected farmers. Notably, the state bears the entire premium cost, ensuring the scheme remains free for all cultivators.

On the second day of her tour, the Chief Minister inaugurated 365 projects worth ₹250.54 crore and laid foundation stones for 134 new initiatives valued at ₹189.43 crore across Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar, and parts of Darjeeling district, including the Siliguri subdivision. Approximately two lakh people benefited from the government services delivered during this drive.

In her remarks, Banerjee reaffirmed her government’s philosophy of “Ma-Mati-Manush”, emphasizing inclusive development and public welfare. A wide array of citizen services was distributed, including social security schemes, Krishak Bandhu death benefits, Kanyashree, Shikshashree, Yogashree, land title deeds, Sabuj Sathi bicycles, cash credit under Anandadhara, and support schemes for minorities, tribal communities, and competitive exam aspirants.

In the Jalpaiguri district alone, 447 houses were inaugurated under the Cha Sundari scheme, with significant infrastructure investments such as a gas-insulated substation at Berubari (₹10 crore), an RCC bridge over the Matura River in Banarhat (₹8 crore), and road improvements from Sahudangi to Belakoba (₹23.13 crore). Foundation stones were laid for major healthcare infrastructure, including a 30-bed rural hospital in Banarhat (₹30.33 crore), a 100-bed hospital in Dhupguri (₹28.76 crore), and a 10-bed Primary Health Centre in Thakurnagar (₹4.31 crore).

In the Siliguri Mahakuma Parishad area, 20 projects worth ₹86.68 crore were inaugurated, including a KV substation in Matigara (₹7.41 crore), 14 new health centers across Matigara, Phansidewa, and Naxalbari (₹6.1 crore), and the renovation of Bidhannagar market (₹4 crore). A key highlight was the laying of the foundation stone for a ₹47.15 crore Bio-Mining Project under Siliguri Municipal Corporation and ₹9.88 crore sanctioned for the Burdwan Road extension.

Alipurduar saw the inauguration of 298 houses under Cha Sundari at ₹20 crore, alongside the foundation of a 50-bed hospital in Birpara (₹9 crore), renovation of Buxa Feeder Road (₹9.31 crore), and key drinking water and road projects worth over ₹14 crore combined.

The Chief Minister also flagged off ten new Sufal Bangla mobile units to boost farmer-market access and six state-run Volvo buses to enhance regional connectivity, including direct services to Digha.

Further developments included a wide range of infrastructure improvements across North Bengal: from eco-parks, solar-powered streetlights, school and healthcare facilities, to roads, bridges, water systems, and tribal community halls. Among the newly announced projects were 38 model schools, solar light installations at 350 locations, and comprehensive waste management systems.

Emphasizing transparency and delivery, Mamata Banerjee read aloud the list of completed and upcoming projects during the event, urging public representatives and political opponents alike to recognize the breadth of development efforts underway.

With cumulative investments exceeding ₹440 crore in a single day, the North Bengal outreach marked one of the most comprehensive regional development drives under the current state administration. Banerjee concluded her address by reiterating her government’s commitment to ensuring that the benefits of progress reach every household across Bengal—especially those in rural, marginalized, and underserved communities.