Bengal assails Centre for aborting urban renewal projects

The West Bengal government Wednesday accused the Centre of aborting sanctioned urban renewal mission projects of Rs.800 crore and demanded that they be reimbursed Rs.1,100 crore for the repair work it conducted for a Metro corridor.

State Urban Development Minister Firhad Hakim said that with the Railway Budget allocating a paltry sum for the three pending Metro projects in the state, the renewal projects would be inordinately delayed, leading to cost escalation.

"Because of the ongoing work, part of the vital Eastern Metropolitan Bypass is blocked. We are having to divert traffic. People are suffering. Now their sufferings will be prolonged," he said.

He said that under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) project, the Centre was supposed to give Bengal Rs.800 crore.

"But it did not do so. So, important projects like flyovers and construction of water tanks have been stalled."

The minister said the state has written to the Centre seeking Rs.1,100 crore as reimbursement for the cost it incurred on repair work for constructing the New Garia-Airport Metro corridor.