Bengal government clears transfer of 7 NH stretches to NHAI, NHIDCL

PTI, May 17, 2026, Kolkat : The Bengal government has accorded in-principle approval for handing over seven stretches of National Highways from the NH wing of the state Public Works Department to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL).

These seven stretches will strengthen connectivity to Sikkim, Bhutan and Bangladesh, link the Darjeeling hills, the Dooars and North Bengal with the national highway network, improve the Bihar-Bengal corridor through Malda and Murshidabad, and upgrade the road spine running through Murshidabad, Nadia and North 24-Parganas up to the Indo-Bangladesh border at Ghojadanga.

The proposals had been pending with the state government for nearly a year, despite repeated requests from the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways. Development works on these stretches stood stalled in the absence of a formal handover.

The stretches include NH-312 (329.6 km) passing through Jangipur-Omarpur-Krishnagar-Bongaon-Basirhat (Ghojadanga), NH-31 passing through Bihar/WB border via Gazole, NH-33 passing through Bihar/WB border via Farakka, New NH-10 (66 km) stretching from Sevoke Army Cantonment-Coronation Bridge-Kalimpong to WB/Sikkim border, New NH-317A passing through Hasimara-Jaigaon up to Indo-Bhutan border, New NH-717 passing across Baradighi-Mainaguri-Changrabandha up to Indo-Bangladesh border, and NH-110 (Old NH-55) from Siliguri (Darjeeling More)-Kurseong-Darjeeling.

With these approvals, the state government has cleared the way for the two central agencies to commence development works on all seven stretches, reaffirming its commitment to expeditious disposal of pending matters and coordinated execution of critical national infrastructure projects, stated an order released from the office of the Chief Secretary.