While the construction work of Varanasi-Kolkata Expressway is progressing rapidly in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand, the project is still going on at a slow pace in West Bengal. In Parliament, the central government told that the construction could not start due to the delay in route approval and land acquisition in the state.
Responding to a question by BJP MP Samik Bhattacharya in the Rajya Sabha, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari informed that notification for land acquisition has been issued in three districts of West Bengal, Purulia, Bankura and Hooghly, but construction work has not started yet.
He informed that in January 2023, the original route of this expressway was approved by both the Central and State Government, but later the West Bengal government requested a change in the route, which was approved by the Center in October 2024.
Gadkari also said that work on most of the stretches in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand has already been allotted, while the detailed project report (DPR) is still being prepared in West Bengal. Construction work will start in the state only after the DPR is completed and priorities are determined. This work will be done in line with the PM Gatishakti National Master Plan.
The land acquisition process has been completed in only three of the six districts of West Bengal, which has affected the pace of the project.
According to experts, this expressway is a major project to accelerate connectivity and economic development in eastern India. The 610-km-long, six-lane greenfield route will reduce the travel time between Varanasi and Kolkata to just six hours, giving a huge boost to trade, tourism and traffic. The route also connects Ranchi and will facilitate goods transport.
The foundation stone of this project costing around Rs 35,000 crore was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 23 February 2024. The project is targeted to be fully operational by March 2028. The expressway is also being considered as a modern alternative to the historic Grand Trunk Road.
Although its economic utility is enormous, the slow progress of construction in West Bengal may affect the timely completion of the project and the state’s ability to reap its benefits.
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