The West Bengal cabinet, under the leadership of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, has given its approval to multiple significant development projects for North Bengal during a meeting held on Monday. The approved initiatives include religious, cultural, and infrastructure developments aimed at boosting the region's growth.
Major Temple and Cultural Complex Approved
State Finance Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya announced that the cabinet has cleared the establishment of a Mahakal temple and an accompanying cultural complex at Matigara near Siliguri. This decision comes after CM Banerjee's recent visit to the Mahakal temple in Darjeeling, where she first announced the construction plans.
The project will utilize two plots of land previously held by a private company on a leasehold basis, which will now be transferred to the Siliguri Jalpaiguri Development Authority (SJDA). A substantial plot exceeding 25 acres has been allocated for the temple complex, while an additional three-acre plot will host the cultural complex. The SJDA will subsequently hand over these plots to the state tourism department for development.
Infrastructure and Housing Initiatives
In a significant move for urban and rural connectivity, the cabinet has decided to construct 15,011 kilometers under the Pathashree (gramin) scheme, with approximately 9,000 new roads planned. For urban areas, Pathashree (urban) roads spanning 5,019 kilometers will be developed. The Kolkata Municipal Corporation and urban local bodies will coordinate urban road projects, while the panchayat department will handle rural infrastructure.
The cabinet also addressed the Banglar Bari housing scheme, committing to provide funds to 16.3 lakh beneficiaries by January 2026. Bhattacharya acknowledged that fund releases had been delayed due to ongoing SIR work but confirmed that the state has already allocated funds to over 12 lakh beneficiaries this year. Chief Secretary Manoj Pant recently conducted meetings with District Magistrates to identify beneficiaries for the fund transfer.
Economic and Industrial Development
Further boosting the state's industrial landscape, the cabinet approved proposals for allotment of industrial land for WBIDC's industrial parks across seven locations. Single industrial parks will be established at Kalyani, Bishnupur, and Uluberia, while two each will come up at Cooch Behar and Falta.
The new convention center in Dabgram, planned on a 10-acre plot near the Asian Highway, promises excellent connectivity alongside the Teesta River. This facility is expected to host various types of meetings and events, further enhancing the region's conference infrastructure.
This marks the third major temple construction project undertaken by the state government, following the recently inaugurated Jagannath temple at Digha last April and the announced Durga Angan at Rajarhat. The timing of these developments is significant as they are likely to feature prominently in Trinamool Congress's campaign strategy ahead of the 2026 assembly elections.
