Even before the electoral campaign formally begins, the Mamata Banerjee government has unveiled a major initiative aimed at strengthening rural connectivity across West Bengal. The state has announced a plan to construct nearly 46,000 kilometers of new roads in rural areas, along with the renovation of another 10,000 kilometers of existing routes.
Political observers see the move as a key strategy by the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) to consolidate support in rural Bengal ahead of the upcoming assembly elections. Party leaders believe the large-scale infrastructure drive could have a positive impact at the ballot box.
Since coming to power in 2011, the TMC government has placed significant emphasis on road construction and infrastructure development. Continuing that focus, Minister of State for Finance (Independent Charge) Chandrima Bhattacharya said that, despite what she described as continuous neglect from the central government, around 2.2 lakh kilometers of roads have already been built under the ‘Pathashree’ project.
“Pathashree-Rastashree is not just a project. It is a commitment to transform the face of rural Bengal. Through this project, village schools, colleges, health centers, and even Kishan Mandis are being directly connected by roads. This is not only making connectivity smoother but also giving a new direction to the rural economy,” She said.
Chandrima added that the state government has spent ₹1,192 crore on the project in the 2025-26 financial year. According to the interim budget, about ₹9,488 crore has been allocated for the completion of the remaining work under the fourth phase of the Pathashree-Rastashree project in the 2026-27 financial year. The government has announced that the entire cost will be borne from the state’s own funds.
In addition to rural projects, the interim budget also includes proposals for several new flyovers in Kolkata to help ease traffic congestion.
West Bengal had topped the country in road construction last financial year, building around 20,000 kilometers of roads. Building on that momentum, the Chief Minister inaugurated the fourth phase of the Pathashree-Rastashree project in December last year from Krishnanagar in Nadia district. The phase involves the construction of 20,030 kilometers of roads in rural and suburban areas at an estimated cost of ₹8,487.83 crore.
Under the project, nearly 35,000 villages and 128 municipalities are expected to benefit. Beyond improved connectivity, the initiative is also projected to have a significant socio-economic impact. The government estimates that more than 15 crore man-days of employment will be generated through job card holders, potentially boosting rural employment.
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