West Bengal road infrastructure projects worth ₹1,042.62 crore have received central funding under the Central Road Infrastructure Fund for the current financial year, with six road works across the state covered by the allocation. The Centre has told the West Bengal government that the projects must be completed within the approved timelines and without additional cost escalation, according to a report by Anandabazar.
The allocation was communicated to Nabanna in writing on Tuesday after a meeting between the state government and the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. The state had submitted proposals seeking ₹1,110.53 crore for the six projects. The approved amount is about ₹68 crore lower, as the Centre assessed that the works could be completed for ₹1,042.62 crore.
The approval includes a condition that revised cost proposals will not be accepted. The administrative sanction for the projects will also not be altered, and funds will not be allocated to any other agency, the report said. These conditions place the responsibility for delivering the approved works within the sanctioned amount and schedule on the state Public Works Department.
In Purulia, ₹226.66 crore has been allocated for widening and strengthening the approximately 28-kilometre Raghunathpur-Chandankiyari road. The project is one of the largest individual allocations in the package and covers a road linking locations in the western part of the state.
The Cooch Behar district package covers nearly 41 kilometres across the Changrabandha-Jamalda-Mathabhanga and Mathabhanga-Cooch Behar roads. Widening and repair work on these stretches has been allocated ₹190.29 crore. In Burdwan, ₹139 crore has been sanctioned for similar work on the approximately 24-kilometre Monteswar-Dainhat road.
Another Burdwan project covers 46.60 kilometres of the Burdwan-Katwa road, along with nearly two kilometres of drainage improvement work. The allocation for this package is ₹156.69 crore. The inclusion of drainage work alongside road improvements indicates that the approved scope extends beyond resurfacing and strengthening the carriageway on that stretch.
In Hooghly, ₹181.89 crore has been allocated for repair work on the 41-kilometre Magra-Sultangancha and Khanakul-Sultangancha roads. North 24 Parganas will receive ₹148.08 crore for work on a 12.40-kilometre section of the Bishnupur-Beliaghata road.
Together, the six projects cover road widening, strengthening, repairs and drainage improvement across Purulia, Cooch Behar, Burdwan, Hooghly and North 24 Parganas. The central allocation now sets a fixed financial ceiling for the works. The next implementation milestone is completion of the projects within the approved timelines and sanctioned costs.
