Kolkata-Howrah to be connected through ring road worth Rs 40 billion

The twin towns of Kolkata and Howrah may soon be connected by a new Rs 40 billion bridge, which would reduce traffic between the two cities. A news source cited an official as saying that negotiations for the new project are under progress. According to Second Vivekananda Bridge Tollway Corporation (SVBTC) Pvt Ltd CEO Anjan Roy Chowdhury, the proposed road will be 130 kilometres long. However, only commercial vehicles will be permitted to use the highway at first. He stated that the suggestion had been addressed with the West Bengal government’s finance, police, public works, and transport departments. “Nearly 40 per cent of the proposed road exists. Another 60 per cent needs to be constructed, added Chowdhury. On a BOT (build-operate-transfer) basis, SVBTC, a technical special purpose vehicle, constructed the Nivedita Setu on the Hooghly river. More than 90% of 4,800 families approved the purchase of the Deocha-Pachami land. According to West Bengal Electricity Minister Aroop Biswas, more than 90% of the approximately 4,800 families impacted by the Deocha-Pachami coal project have given their agreement for land acquisition. The Central Mine Planning and Design Institute's thorough geological report is anticipated by May, he said, and exploratory drilling in the area has been completed. “We are now starting the process of obtaining specific family and property information through an app built for the purpose,” he said. According to Biswas, this would provide easy rehabilitation and resettlement for the impacted families who reside in the vicinity of the proposed location of Asia's largest coal mine. According to sources, the government will spend about Rs 100 billion on the rehabilitation and relocation programme. The government estimates that the coal block has a 2.1 billion tonne reserve and has the potential to bring in an investment of Rs 350 billion.