Important NH60 bridge projects suffer delays due to Mamata’s non-interference approach to land policies.

The Chief Minister’s decision to stop evictions delays the Centre-approved Kansabati, Shilabati, and Tilpara bridge projects, fueling concerns about rising costs and safety.

The Bengal government’s reluctance to intervene in land matters is now affecting crucial infrastructure work, with three significant NH60 bridges facing uncertainty after CM Mamata Banerjee ordered no evictions for renovating the Kansabati bridge in West Midnapore.

According to government sources, Mamata’s directive has cast doubt over the future of the bridges across the Kansabati and Shilabati rivers in West Midnapore, as well as the barrage bridge in Tilpara, Birbhum. The projects remain uncertain despite most affected landowners for the Kansabati and Shilabati bridges already receiving compensation.

These bridges are all located along NH60, which runs through five districts in south Bengal and connects to NH12 (previously NH34) at Morgram in Murshidabad.

In early 2023, the Bengal government proposed replacing the existing two-lane bridges over the Kansabati and Shilabati rivers, as they appeared inadequate to handle the growing traffic load on NH60.

To ease traffic flow on NH60, the state proposed building four-lane bridges over the rivers. The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, led by Nitin Gadkari, approved the plan and sanctioned ₹304.82 crore in November 2023.

Gadkari stated that under the 2023–24 annual plan, the Centre had allocated funds for a 1.48 km four-lane bridge over the Kansabati river and a 900-metre four-lane bridge over the Shilabati.

According to sources, the Centre swiftly approved the project after heavy vehicles were restricted from using the bridges, as the structures could not bear the weight, causing traffic issues on the key national highway.

After the Centre gave the green light, the state government started acquiring land in early 2024. Residents along the Shilabati river and some shopkeepers protested during Mamata’s convoy visit in August, demanding that the government not displace them for the Kansabati bridge expansion, sources said.

Mamata promised that no evictions would occur and instructed the district magistrate and police superintendent of West Midnapore to enforce this.

The situation complicated matters for land acquisition officials because most protesters had already received compensation for the projects.

According to the district officials’ report, authorities provided ₹28.61 crore in compensation to land-losers for the land needed to rebuild the bridge.

“Out of the total compensation, authorities have paid ₹21.74 crore—or 76 percent—to the land-losers. This payment should have allowed them to secure enough land to build 1,750 metres of the two bridges’ combined 2,380 metres length. Still, the chief minister’s order has stopped the projects,” a source stated.

According to sources, the chief minister’s choice could have a long-term impact on infrastructure development.

“Since the Centre has paid the compensation, any delays now will raise project expenses. This could lead the Centre to reconsider approving projects in Bengal, sending a negative message at a time when it plans to invest over ₹40,000 crore in the state’s national highways,” a source explained.

Tilpara’s river barrage bridge:

The delay by the state government in securing land for the four-lane Tilpara Barrage bridge has taken a toll on the existing two-lane road bridge, which has deteriorated to the extent that traffic has been stopped entirely. This has disrupted Birbhum’s only industry, the stone quarries that depend on this road.

Engineers from the irrigation department and PWD recently inspected the barrage and reported damage to the water dividers and deterioration of the bridge’s foundation caused by several factors, especially extensive sand mining. In response, the state government proposed building a new four-lane bridge two years ago, and the Centre approved funding, recognizing its importance.

Two years ago, the Centre requested the state to provide a detailed project report.

“The district authorities submitted a detailed proposal to Nabanna, but Nabanna has not responded since they need to acquire land,” an official said.

According to sources, Mackintosh Burn, a civil engineering company, started making temporary repairs to the bridge and barrage.

“The government’s current efforts are short-term, focused on restoring the bridge before the 2026 polls. But quick fixes won’t solve the problem and could lead to a major disaster if the bridge reopens too soon. Officials should move forward with constructing a new four-lane bridge,” a bureaucrat warned.