Water metro for Kolkata, separate shipping division likely: Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari

WEst Bengal chief regime minister Suvendu Adhikari on th said the say government is considering cutting out a separate shipping wing from the transport department and exploring the development of minor ports on the lines of Gujarat and Odisha.ALSO READ | West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari inaugurates BJP office in BhabanipurShipping wing and port development plansAddressing a press conference after the meeting, Adhikari said the state was keen to strengthen maritime infrastructure and inland water transport and was examining structural reforms to boost the sector."Currently, the transport and shipping departments function together in the state. We are considering creating a separate shipping wing in the future. We are also examining the possibility of developing minor ports on the lines of states such as Gujarat and Odisha," he said.Announcing a major boost to water-based urban transport, Adhikari said Kolkata would become the 18th city in the country to be connected to the water metro network.Kolkata to join water metro network"Kolkata will now be linked to the water metro system. The project has already been implemented at 17 locations across the country, including Kerala. Kolkata will be the 18th city to join the chain," he said.ALSO READ | Suvendu Adhikari expands West Bengal cabinet, 35 more ministers sworn-inSagarmala programme participationAdhikari said West Bengal had not been associated with the Sagarmala-I programme and had therefore not availed of the benefits under the Centre's flagship port-led development initiative."The previous government did not actively participate in several key projects of the central government, and eventually, we missed the opportunity to be part of the Sagarmala 1 programme. However, yesterday, the PM approved the Sagarmala 2 programme, and we have decided to join it," the CM said."We are preparing project proposals worth ₹22,700 crore for implementation over the next five years," he said, adding that these projects will focus on coastal fishing infrastructure, island development, and other maritime initiatives.Hooghly tunnel, jetties and coastal infrastructure pushAdhikari said during Wednesday's review meeting, there was a discussion on a proposal for an underground tunnel across the Hooghly for which the SMPT and the shipping corporation have given the NoC, he said, adding that additionally, "44 new jetties are planned to be constructed, and we received 41 NoCs today".Gangasagar Mela international pushReferring to plans for the annual Gangasagar Mela, the CM said efforts were underway to elevate the pilgrimage event to the international stage."Beach restoration projects for Sagar Island have also been sanctioned under the programme. We have begun planning to promote the Sagar Mela on an international scale and establish it as a globally recognised event," he said."There are several proposals to develop Gangasagar Mela into an international event. The Centre had agreed to support a coastal protection project near the Kapil Muni Ashram and will also support the required dredging work," he added.He said there were proposals on a series of development initiatives focused on coastal and Sundarbans-adjacent regions, including Sagar, Namkhana, Kakdwip, Khejuri, Sandeshkhali, Hingalganj, Gosaba, Basanti and Bakkhali.Adhikari also said plans were being drawn up to create dedicated infrastructure facilities for coastal fishermen, aimed at supporting their livelihoods and enhancing operational efficiency in the sector.He stressed that the proposed projects would cover a wide range of sectors, including port connectivity, coastal transportation, inland waterways, fisheries infrastructure and development of island regions.Adhikari said the proposed investments also include development of the Balagarh Multimodal Logistics Hub, expansion and mechanisation of Kolkata and Haldia docks, cruise tourism infrastructure, riverfront redevelopment projects and port-led industrial clusters.The CM said work on the road connectivity project for the Balagarh Hub had begun and that measures were being taken to strengthen riverbank protection."The connectivity road for the Balagarh terminal has already been taken up. We have also decided to provide concrete protection along a 2.5-km stretch to prevent river erosion, while dredging will be carried out over nearly 45 km of the river channel," he said.The CM welcomed the continued cooperation between the Centre and the state and said, "These initiatives are important for strengthening West Bengal's maritime ecosystem and supporting economic growth."Adhikari said several prominent ghats along the Hooghly, including Bagbazar, Ahiritola, Shobhabazar, Mallick Ghat, Babughat, Ramkrishnapur and Bally, would be renovated and beautified."Our target is to complete the renovation and beautification work before Durga Puja. Special attention is being given to preserving places associated with Sri Ramakrishna and Maa Sarada," he said.The chief minister also said the government was exploring rehabilitation options for low-income families residing on land belonging to Kolkata Port."There is a proposal to construct flats under a central housing scheme for economically weaker families living on port land. We are examining the modalities," he said.Adhikari added that nodal officers or project directors would be appointed for key projects discussed during the meeting and expressed confidence that tangible progress would be visible within three months.He further said discussions were underway on setting up a museum at Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port to showcase the history and heritage of old Kolkata.