Land problems stall Bengal roads

While the Centre was ready to fund the development of new national highways (NH) in West Bengal, the state was struggling with delays in land acquisition and ongoing projects were behind schedule, complained the Union minister of state for the ministry of shipping, road transport and highways.

The ministry planned to develop 15000 kilometre (km) of four and six lane national highways all over India in a phased manner by 2014-15 at a cost of Rs 2,47,000 crore.

Talking at the 69th Indian Roads Congress K H Muniyappa said that while the state government was trying its best, road projects started way back in 2001 were yet to be completed on account of acquisition delays.

 

"Without the support of the state governments the Centre cannot build four and six lane highways. It is up to the people of Bengal to cooperate", he added.

Admitting that land acquisition delays had stalled road projects in the state, Budhhadeb Bhattacharjee, chief minister of West Bengal, said, "We are dealing with an irresponsible opposition in this part of the country, who are not only opposing the construction of roads, but also factories and power plants."

"Of the ongoing projects, a 4km stretch near Panagarh on NH-2 and two pockets at Amdanga and Kadapara on NH-34 were incomplete due to land problems.", Kshiti Goswami, minister in charge of the Public Works department, admitted.

Officials from the ministry of road transport claimed that work on the NH41, connecting Haldia to Mecheda, had resumed after the old tender was terminated on allegations of slow progress.

Highlighting the need to develop road and allied infrastructure, Bhattacharjee said that while the current economic downturn hit all sectors, infrastructure sector would not be affected as badly.

"Until India is able to improve its infrastructure, it will fail attract foreign direct investments. China could do this banking on its strong infrastructure of roads, ports and highways", he added.