CM lays foundation stone, opens projects worth Rs 1,142 cr
The Statesman | 30 July 2025
Chief minister Mamata Banerjee has laid foundation stones of over 1,000 projects virtually throughout the state worth Rs 1,142 crore from her meeting in Birbhum district today afternoon.
Bridges, roads, water projects, primary health unit, community hall, boundary wall of burial ground, schools, community hall, minority community sadbhav mandap etc have been inaugurated and foundation stones laid today.
“The bridge on Ajay river from Joydeb Kenduli – Khagra with Muchipara in West Burdwan district is the most notable contribution in the region. Visitors and pilgrims of Joydeb – Kenduli Mela will be immensely benefited after this new bridge is inaugurated today,” CM said.
“We have also set up a long bridge connecting Kalna with Shantipur to go to Nabadwip. I request the DM of Birbhum and PWD to rechristen this bridge as Joydeb Bridge to honour the local pride. We have already set up a bridge on Ajay river at a cost of Rs 115 crore. In Malda, five bridges on Tangon river have been inaugurated, replacing the old ones, which will connect with South Dinajpur, Gajole and Bamongola roads. These bridges will eliminate the bottlenecks in that stretch. The connectivity in north Bengal will be immensely improved,” she added.
“For the first time in West Bengal, at Bakreswar Thermal Power Project of WBPDCL, we have set up a solar plant project in the water reservoir and we can replicate this in other parts of the state and people can get cheap power,” she said. In Suri Hospital, a hybrid CCU unit at cost of Rs 1.39 crore, a Basirhat hospital dialysis unit at a cost of Rs 2 crore was also inaugurated. About 30 lakh families get facilities.
The chief minister announced that the Jal Swapna Project will also start soon. During the Lok Sabha elections last year, the Centre claimed that they are providing the 40 per cent funds. For the last one year, they have stopped providing funds and we provide 90 per cent funds and also the maintenance cost. The MLAs should give Rs 10 lakh to PHE from MLA Lad, MPs through DM will give Rs 1 crores to PHE, panchayat samiti and zilla parishad will give 5 per cent each and the government will pay the rest. The chief secretary will make a committee and move ahead with these projects, she added.
Since the last three to four years for the Banglar Bari project the Centre has stopped funding and the state government has funded 45,000 mud houses to be converted into pucca houses, while this year, two phases of funds for 12 lakh houses have been released already. In December, another 16lakh people will get the first instalment and the second instalment in May, next year. So, 28 lakh people will be benefitted, the rest people will get those benefits in the next few years.
The poor people, who visited Delhi for 100 days’ work and faced police cases during agitation, we have started Karmashree. We have given 77 lakh job card holders and spent Rs 215.29 crore. The migrant workers, who are still outside, I request their families to call them back. We will arrange their passage money and all their cards will be given.
“I love when I see young kids travel to school by Sabuj Sathi cycles. Today, Class IX students get cycles and smart phone for Class XI students. Aikashyree Minority scholarship, Sikshashree for SC and ST and OBC Medhashree, Swami Vivekananda merit for university and college students. There are 1 crore Kanyashree girls in the state,” said Mamata.
She has also highlighted the Sabuj Bachao programme of translocating the greenery in the Deucha Panchami coal mining project. Around 57,000 units of MSME were developed, Ahmedpur Sugar Mill, a large industrial park will be set up. About 9.25 lakh women receive Lakshmi Bhandar, she said.