The West Bengal government has rolled out a major urban infrastructure initiative, the 'Pathashree Urban' programme, with a substantial financial commitment aimed at transforming road connectivity in cities and towns across the state.
Massive Financial Outlay and Scale
The state administration has sanctioned an estimated financial outlay of Rs 1,500 crore for executing this flagship scheme. The programme, which focuses on the repair, upgradation, and construction of roads in urban localities, is being spearheaded by the Urban Development and Municipal Affairs Department (UD&MA).
Under the ambitious plan, a total of 11,365 road stretches have been identified for work across West Bengal. The initial phase will see construction and renovation on 10,060 roads, which together span an approximate cumulative length of 3,375.9 kilometres.
Kolkata and Metropolitan Area Focus
Within the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) area, 112 specific road stretches with a total length of 29.1 km have been listed for repair. A significant portion of these are located in KMC ward 139, covering the Garden Reach and Metiabruz areas.
The scheme's reach extends well beyond Kolkata city. A major cluster of projects is planned for the broader Kolkata Metropolitan Area (KMA). Here, 5,616 roads spanning about 1,601.7 km have been listed across 40 urban local bodies in districts including South 24 Parganas, North 24 Parganas, Howrah, Hooghly, and Nadia.
Implementation and Execution Framework
The State Urban Development Agency (SUDA) has been designated as the nodal authority for the scheme's execution. It will coordinate with various implementing agencies and parastatals such as the Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA), the Municipal Engineering Directorate (MED), and the KMC within the city.
"Tenders were floated and work orders are to be issued," a government official stated, adding that the estimated project cost was likely to increase as work progresses. For roads across the state outside specific municipal corporations, the MED will act as the implementing agency.
Officials highlighted that the Pathashree Urban initiative follows the successful completion of three phases of the Pathashree rural road scheme, which undertook similar improvements for village roads across West Bengal. This new urban-focused chapter aims to significantly enhance intra-city mobility and infrastructure, addressing long-standing connectivity issues in the state's growing urban landscapes.
