Suvendu Adhikari announced a series of North Bengal infrastructure projects, healthcare facilities and civic upgrades at a rally and administrative meeting in Siliguri on Tuesday, including a proposed ropeway from Kurseong to Darjeeling, new medical colleges and the reopening of closed tea gardens.
Addressing a large procession from Bagha Jatin Park to Air View More, Adhikari criticised the previous state government and highlighted the Centre’s and the state’s development claims. Union minister Sukanta Majumdar, Darjeeling MP Raju Bista and legislators including Nishith Pramanik and Shankar Ghosh joined the procession, according to Anandabazar.
Adhikari said an AIIMS facility would be established in Raiganj, a cancer hospital in Jalpaiguri and medical colleges in Balurghat, Kalimpong and Alipurduar. He also said discussions were under way for an IIT or IIM in Siliguri. The announcements did not include project costs, construction schedules or details of the agencies responsible for implementation.
The leader also said airports at Hasimara, Kalaikunda, Balurghat and Purulia would be operationalised, while 21 closed tea gardens, including Samsing, would be reopened. The tea-garden announcement links the region’s infrastructure agenda with employment and the economic condition of tea-growing communities, though no reopening timetable was provided in the report.
Following the rally, Adhikari held a meeting with the Siliguri municipal commissioner, administrator, local legislators, the Darjeeling MP and other civic officials. A statement issued after the meeting said work on a ropeway connecting Kurseong and Darjeeling would begin soon. The project had already received approval from the state government, the statement said.
The meeting also reportedly decided to repair and modernise hospitals in Darjeeling, Kurseong, Kalimpong, Mirik and Siliguri. The foundation stone for Kalimpong Medical College is scheduled to be laid on 9 December, according to the report. The decisions indicate that healthcare capacity and existing public facilities are being treated as parallel priorities alongside new institutions.
Other approvals discussed at the meeting included the redevelopment of Lebong Ground as a modern stadium and the beautification, development and maintenance of the Mahakal Temple complex in Darjeeling. The state government has approved an allocation of Rs 19 crore for the temple complex, the report said.
Adhikari also referred to the forthcoming municipal elections and expressed confidence that his party would win in Kolkata, Howrah and Siliguri. He said North Bengal could not be separated from the development of West Bengal and promised that residents would receive the benefits of a “double-engine” government.
The immediate next steps identified in the report are the 9 December foundation-stone ceremony for Kalimpong Medical College, the proposed start of the Kurseong-Darjeeling ropeway work and further implementation decisions for hospital modernisation, airport operations and civic redevelopment.
