The Central and West Bengal governments of India have taken a significant initiative to strengthen road connectivity with Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan, with a particular focus on facilitating faster movement of goods through key international land ports in the state.
Under the initiative, around 2,000 kilometres of roads currently under the West Bengal government are proposed to be brought under the jurisdiction of the Central government for upgrading, modernisation and development.
The move is expected to improve road connectivity as well as play an important role in the transportation of goods across the region.
The initiative is aimed at improving road links to major land ports along the India-Bangladesh border, including Petrapole, Changrabandha, Hili, Fulbari and Ghojadanga. Better connectivity to these ports is expected to make the movement of goods between India and Bangladesh faster and more efficient.
The Centre has initiated the process of upgrading 16 important state roads in West Bengal, covering nearly 2,000 kilometres, to National Highway standards. These roads are expected to play a significant role in facilitating the movement of goods between India and Bangladesh.
West Bengal Public Works Minister Ajay Poddar recently placed the proposal before Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari in New Delhi. Following the meeting, the proposal has entered the process at the Central level, according to sources in the state Public Works Department.
Speaking on Tuesday, Poddar said the initiative was aimed at strengthening connectivity and transportation infrastructure with neighbouring countries.
He said efforts were being made to ensure that imported and exported goods reach their destinations more quickly and that trucks carrying goods do not have to remain stranded on roads for hours.
According to sources, once the administrative process is completed, preliminary work on the expansion and development of the identified roads could begin within the next two to three months.
The Central government has also reviewed the maintenance and development of National Highways in West Bengal this year.
Several important border routes have been included in the proposed list. Among them, roads connecting Gaur in Malda with Mahadipur and the route through Chakdaha and Bongaon to the Petrapole land port have been given particular importance.
These routes are crucial for land trade with Bangladesh and connectivity in border areas.
West Bengal shares international borders not only with Bangladesh but also with Nepal and Bhutan.
Bringing the proposed roads under the National Highway network could therefore strengthen connectivity in border districts while creating greater opportunities to improve freight movement and logistics infrastructure.
Several roads important for industrial and commercial connectivity have also been included in the proposal. These include the Purulia-Barakar road, which would improve connectivity with the Raghunathpur industrial area in Purulia.
Other proposed routes include the Durgapur – Bankura road, the Jubilee Mor – Jamtara road from Asansol, and the Mohammad Bazar-Sainthia – Kandi route connecting Birbhum and Murshidabad.
The proposed expansion of the road network is expected to strengthen regional connectivity and facilitate smoother movement of goods between West Bengal, neighbouring countries and major industrial and commercial centres.
