Fulfilling a long-pending demand of pilgrims and residents, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday laid the foundation stone for the four-lane Muriganga Bridge at Gangasagar. The ambitious project, estimated to cost around ₹1,700 crore, will span 4.75 km and is expected to be completed within the next two to three years.
The Chief Minister arrived at Sagar Island to review preparations for the upcoming Gangasagar Mela ahead of Poush Sankranti. She inspected infrastructure and security arrangements at the mela site before attending a government programme where she inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for multiple projects worth ₹2,324.30 crore, with the Muriganga Bridge being the flagship initiative.
Addressing the gathering, Mamata said the bridge was essential to address the long-standing hardships faced by the people of the region. “We don’t just make promises; we deliver. The people here face numerous challenges, and this bridge was a necessity,” she said.
Once completed, the bridge is expected to benefit nearly three lakh residents of Sagar Island by improving connectivity and easing daily travel. It will also facilitate smoother movement for pilgrims and tourists from across the country, reducing both travel time and costs.
Referring to the Left Front regime, the Chief Minister criticised the previous government for neglecting infrastructure development. She said that before 2011, the region suffered from poor facilities and frequent power cuts. “That era is over. There will be no load shedding in Bengal again,” she said, adding that the state government closely monitors arrangements during the Gangasagar Mela, with ministers on the ground and oversight from Nabanna, the state secretariat.
The Chief Minister also responded to political criticism over her recently released account of 14 years of development work, officially titled Unnayaner Panchali. She said she was unfazed by allegations from the opposition and asserted that beneficiaries of welfare schemes such as Kanyashree, Lakshmir Bhandar and Swasthya Sathi would speak for the government’s work.
Without naming the Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, Mamata took a veiled dig at recent political visits to Gangasagar, accusing critics of dishonesty. She also targeted the central government and the Election Commission over the SIR issue, alleging harassment of people and claiming that several deaths and suicide attempts had occurred due to its forceful implementation.
Raising concerns over fishermen from the region, the Chief Minister said that the state government plays a key role in securing the release of fishermen who inadvertently cross into Bangladesh and are jailed, while accusing the BJP of remaining inactive except during election periods.
Warning voters against what she termed “flashy promises” made during elections, Mamata alleged that opposition parties copy state welfare schemes during campaigns but resort to coercive actions once polls are over.
The demand for a permanent bridge connecting Gangasagar has existed for decades. The Chief Minister has earlier accused the central government of neglecting the issue and questioned why the Gangasagar Mela, attended by millions of devotees, has not been granted national fair status like the Kumbh Mela. After receiving no response from Delhi, she announced in 2023 that the state government would construct the bridge on its own.
At present, people depend on ferry services to cross the Muriganga River, with tidal fluctuations often disrupting connectivity and isolating Sagar Island. Government officials said the bridge would provide a permanent, safe and uninterrupted link to the mainland.
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