Centre Clears ₹1,042.62 Crore for Six Road Widening Projects in West Bengal
Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has announced that the Centre has approved ₹1,042.62 crore for widening and strengthening six road projects in West Bengal, together spanning 194.10 km, under the Central Road Infrastructure Fund (CRIF) scheme. The funding is intended to upgrade carriageways, strengthen pavements and enable the roads to accommodate higher traffic loads along corridors identified by state and central engineers.
According to the minister, the projects are expected to improve road connectivity, reduce travel time and enhance safety, while strengthening access to markets, educational institutions and healthcare facilities. The works are also expected to boost regional trade, support local economies and improve last-mile connectivity across the state. Funds will be deployed in phases, with implementation monitored jointly by central and state agencies to ensure timely completion.
The CRIF approval comes alongside separate state-level efforts to address road conditions in West Bengal. West Bengal Chief Minister has directed government agencies and departments to repair damaged roads across the state, setting a deadline of October 10 for completion of works ahead of the Puja season. A review meeting was held with officials from the Kolkata Port Trust, Garden Reach Shipbuilders, the Public Works Department and the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, with instructions for a fast-track repair programme in port-area stretches.
Separately, the state's panchayat department has been tasked with repairing 3,200 rural roads, while the urban development and municipal affairs department has been instructed to address roads within municipal jurisdictions, running in parallel with the CRIF-funded projects.