With only days left for the annual Gangasagar Mela, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee visited Sagar Island to review final preparations and laid the foundation stone for the long-awaited four-lane bridge over the Muriganga river. The proposed Gangasagar bridge, spanning around 4.75 km, will connect Kakdwip with Sagar Island and is expected to significantly improve connectivity. The project will require the acquisition of nearly 12.97 acres of land and is estimated to cost about Rs 16.7 billion, according to officials from the public works department. At the foundation-laying ceremony, Banerjee announced that Larsen & Toubro has been awarded the construction contract. She said the entire cost would be borne by the state government and that the bridge is expected to be completed within two to three years. The Chief Minister noted that the project had been conceived nearly six years ago, but repeated requests to the Centre for financial assistance did not yield support, prompting the state to take it up independently. Banerjee also visited Kapil Muni’s Ashram on the island, where she offered prayers, performed aarti and presented a sari at the temple. Speaking to the media, she said extensive preparations had been made for the Gangasagar Mela, which begins on Friday. She said seven to eight review meetings had already been held and a dedicated team deployed, with expectations of nearly 10 million pilgrims attending the fair this year. Describing the bridge as a long-standing demand of the people of Sagar Island, Banerjee said the project would make travel safer, easier and more frequent for residents and pilgrims alike. She remarked that the traditional saying “Sab tirtha bar bar, Gangasagar ek bar” would soon change with improved access to the island. From the temple premises, the Chief Minister also criticised the BJP and the Election Commission over the alleged deletion of names from electoral rolls during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision. She termed the deletions unjust and warned that any political interference in the process would not be tolerated.