Banerjee, who reached Sagar Island on Monday for a two-day visit to oversee the arrangements for the annual Makar Sankranti pilgrimage, said her government would spend Rs 1,500 crore to construct the 5-km-long Gangasagar Setu across the Muriganga river to connect the mainland to Sagar Island.
Speaking to mediapersons after visiting the Kapil Muni Ashram at Sagar Island, the chief minister said: “The Centre does not even turn and look at the Ganga Sagar Mela, but spends thousands of crores for the Kumbh Mela (in Prayagraj). One day, Ganga Sagar Mela will be a national mela.”
The chief minister was referring to the Centre approving a special grant of Rs 2,100 crore for the Maha Kumbh mela, which will begin in Prayagraj on January 13. The allocation was made by the Centre in response to a special request by the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh for one-time financial assistance to ensure the “safe and successful organisation of the grand event.”
“Previously, there was nothing in Gangasagar. We are doing all that we can for the place. I have met with the Maharaji (of Kapil Muni Ashram) here… Every year, lakhs of devotees come and donate at Kapil Muni Ashram, but all the donations are sent back to Ayodhya where they have another temple. I have requested that this time, they contribute 25 per cent of the donations to build a cemented area around the Kapil Muni Ashram to prevent it from getting submerged (during high tide),” the chief minister said.
“The state government has issued a tender for constructing a bridge that should have been built by the Government of India… A detailed project report (DPR) for the four-lane bridge is ready. The bridge is expected to be complete in four years,” she added.
The Gangasagar Mela will begin from January 9 and will end on January 17. With lakhs of pilgrims expected to visit Sagar Island, the government has planned to deploy over 12,000 police personnel and set up additional watch towers. Over 2,250 state-run buses and 250 private buses will be deployed for people to commute, besides nine barges, 32 vessels, 100 launches, and 21 jetties, an official said.
Banerjee said that she has directed Chief Secretary Manoj Pant to chalk out a plan to create separate sub-divisions for Gosaba and Patharpratima and another for Sandeshkhali and Hingalganj assembly constituencies. “These are far-off places surrounded by water all around. These will definitely help the locals in getting their government jobs done with ease,” she said.