State plans corridor parallel to NH-34.

The motorists travelling from Kolkata to Siliguri on the National Highway 34 stretch will soon have an alternative up to Murshidabad as the Mamata Banerjee government has planned a 270-kilometre north-south corridor from Murshidabad to East Midnapore, parallel to NH 34.

An Asian Development Bank (ADB) loan will fund the project and the West Bengal Highway Development Corporation (WBHDC) is preparing a detailed project report.

WBHDC managing director Manoj Kumar Agarwal said the DPR is in its final stage. 'The project has been pegged at Rs 4,600 crore and the funding ratio will be 70:30. This means 70% of the funds will come in the way of ADB loans,' he said. The corridor that will move parallel to NH-34 will start from Haldia's Mechogram and end at Jangipur's Morgram area passing through parts of Hooghly, Burdwan and Nadia.

According to plans, the project will be implemented in phases. Two stretches will be constructed — from Mechogram to Ghatal and Arambag to Burdwan — in the first phase.

State officials said that land will not be a problem for the project. Initially, it will be a two-lane stretch as the WBHDC authorities will be making an assessment to identify areas where it can have four lanes. The authorities are likely to float tender for the project by next March.

Officials said that that the new highway stretch will not only improve north-south connectivity but also help ease traffic congestion within Kolkata since vehicles for East Midnapore from Hooghly and Burdwan won't have to enter the city. They will be able to take the new corridor.


TOI