Lack of Central funds hits connectivity projects in West Bengal

Kolkata: Several connectivity projects in the State are stuck due to uncertainty over the availability of Central funds, according to Mr Subhas Chakraborty, West Bengal Minster for Transport, Youth Services and Sports.

The projects included, among others, 34-km-long light rapid transit system, 42-km long elevated ring road system and Nagerbazar flyover project, which was turned down on August 18.

“In the absence of Central funds, we are mulling to go ahead on our own, preferably on public private partnership model,” he said. A beginning had already been made and 10 firms, both domestic and international, had already responded to tenders floated for the Elevated Ring Road project, he added.

The Minister said it was difficult to estimate the amount of loss incurred due to trucks and vehicles being held up at the Durgapur Expressway. “These are notional losses and it is very difficult to quantify them,” he added.