Bengal govt announces highways project

The West Bengal government has announced a highways project and set up an agency in public-private partnership model with an initial paid-up capital of Rs 50 crore.

The agency, ‘The West Bengal Highway Development Corporation’ comprising experts from the state run Public Works Department and private sector professionals, will be entrusted with the task of implementing the ‘Swarnali Rasta Prokolpo’ (golden roads project).
This was decided following a meeting here on Friday.

Areas to be managed

Briefing the media after the cabinet meeting, state Industries Minister Partha Chatterjee said: “The new agency will be put in charge of improvement, maintenance of highways, as also the link roads to them. The important roads in the state will also be under its jurisdiction.

“The Memorandum of Association has been prepared. The WBHDC will have an initial paid-up capital of Rs 50 crore. We want to start the Swarnali Rasta Prokolpo as soon as possible,” the  minister said.