Samprati Motghare
IIM graduate, Batch of 2014
Intentions of good governance and all the plans surrounding it may get tossed up in thin air if there isn’t enough infrastructural support to various departments for their developmental work. Public works department is responsible for providing adequate infrastructural support to both original and repair works of all the departments directly under the Government of West Bengal as well as different semi-government and government undertakings etc. so that they can successfully deliver their assigned services. This support includes buildings, roads, bridges, electrification, sanitary plumbing, air-conditioning, fire-fighting & detection, lifts, water supply, Generators, EPABX, information technology etc.
Developments in Jangalmahal
Under the backward regions grant fund (BRGF) a total length of 2,281 km of roads were sanctioned, out of which 1,163 km of roads have been completed. 16 bridges have been constructed in the region along with widening and strength of 210 km of roads. 12 new schools with hostels, 1 Primary Teacher Training Institute, 74 girls hostels having 50 seat capacity each, 4 new colleges, 3 stadiums, 1 sports academy, 1 polytechnic institute, 2 industrial training institutes (ITI) and 1 state data centre (SDC) have been taken up for construction. 48 girls’ hostels and 1 stadium have already been constructed. A total of 422 projects out of 621 under state plan have been completed.
National highways
Around 540 km of national highways have been widened and strengthened in the past 34 months, which has improved connectivity and comfort in transportation. 7 bridges and 2 flyovers are also being constructed on different national highways. A large bridge has already been completed which connects Malda district in West Bengal with Katihar district in Bihar over Fulahar River at Nakatia.
Improving health infrastructure
Seth Sukhlal Karnani Memorial (SSKM) hospital has witnessed a lot of improvement in its infrastructure in the past two and a half years. It includes new seven storied Rheumatology department, a two storied shelter room of people accompanying patients, trauma centre and a new academic block for its students. Linear Accelerator Facility has been constructed in Radiotherapy department at Nil Ratan Sarkar Medical College. In Uluberia sub-divisional hospital, a labour room and a Neo-natal unit have been constructed.
Building new educational infrastructure
As West Bengal government is trying to create new institutions to propel growth in education sector, it requires a faster delivery of necessary infrastructure for new colleges and universities. Some of notable developments in this field are the construction of Government Engineering College and Leather Technology building at Salt Lake along with Minorities’ Building and Meeting halls for minorities and madrassah education at Hooghly, which have been completed. Construction is going on for Women’s university, Kazi Nazrul Islam University, Aliah University etc.
New roads and bridges
Around 4,000 km of roads have been made double lane in the past 34 months. 16 bridges and 5 flyovers also been completed in the period. Rs 170 crore bridge is being constructed at rapid pace over the river Subarnarekha at Bhasaraghat in Paschim Medinipur. Also, developmental proposal of constructing Asian Highways, AH-2 (Nepal to Bangladesh) and AH-48 (Bhutan to Bangladesh, under the aegis of South Asia Sub-Regional Economic Cooperation has been adopted.
A big landmark for the public works department was the completion of Nabanna. Renovation of Writer’s building has started after shifting the State’s Secretariat to Nabanna, which took about 2 months. Public works department has displayed that it has all the capabilities to handle the requirements of fast paced reconstruction of the state and to enhance its efficiency; it has started e-Tendering and e-Procurement, which is a great initiative.
IIM graduate, Batch of 2014
Intentions of good governance and all the plans surrounding it may get tossed up in thin air if there isn’t enough infrastructural support to various departments for their developmental work. Public works department is responsible for providing adequate infrastructural support to both original and repair works of all the departments directly under the Government of West Bengal as well as different semi-government and government undertakings etc. so that they can successfully deliver their assigned services. This support includes buildings, roads, bridges, electrification, sanitary plumbing, air-conditioning, fire-fighting & detection, lifts, water supply, Generators, EPABX, information technology etc.
Developments in Jangalmahal
Under the backward regions grant fund (BRGF) a total length of 2,281 km of roads were sanctioned, out of which 1,163 km of roads have been completed. 16 bridges have been constructed in the region along with widening and strength of 210 km of roads. 12 new schools with hostels, 1 Primary Teacher Training Institute, 74 girls hostels having 50 seat capacity each, 4 new colleges, 3 stadiums, 1 sports academy, 1 polytechnic institute, 2 industrial training institutes (ITI) and 1 state data centre (SDC) have been taken up for construction. 48 girls’ hostels and 1 stadium have already been constructed. A total of 422 projects out of 621 under state plan have been completed.
National highways
Around 540 km of national highways have been widened and strengthened in the past 34 months, which has improved connectivity and comfort in transportation. 7 bridges and 2 flyovers are also being constructed on different national highways. A large bridge has already been completed which connects Malda district in West Bengal with Katihar district in Bihar over Fulahar River at Nakatia.
Improving health infrastructure
Seth Sukhlal Karnani Memorial (SSKM) hospital has witnessed a lot of improvement in its infrastructure in the past two and a half years. It includes new seven storied Rheumatology department, a two storied shelter room of people accompanying patients, trauma centre and a new academic block for its students. Linear Accelerator Facility has been constructed in Radiotherapy department at Nil Ratan Sarkar Medical College. In Uluberia sub-divisional hospital, a labour room and a Neo-natal unit have been constructed.
Building new educational infrastructure
As West Bengal government is trying to create new institutions to propel growth in education sector, it requires a faster delivery of necessary infrastructure for new colleges and universities. Some of notable developments in this field are the construction of Government Engineering College and Leather Technology building at Salt Lake along with Minorities’ Building and Meeting halls for minorities and madrassah education at Hooghly, which have been completed. Construction is going on for Women’s university, Kazi Nazrul Islam University, Aliah University etc.
New roads and bridges
Around 4,000 km of roads have been made double lane in the past 34 months. 16 bridges and 5 flyovers also been completed in the period. Rs 170 crore bridge is being constructed at rapid pace over the river Subarnarekha at Bhasaraghat in Paschim Medinipur. Also, developmental proposal of constructing Asian Highways, AH-2 (Nepal to Bangladesh) and AH-48 (Bhutan to Bangladesh, under the aegis of South Asia Sub-Regional Economic Cooperation has been adopted.
A big landmark for the public works department was the completion of Nabanna. Renovation of Writer’s building has started after shifting the State’s Secretariat to Nabanna, which took about 2 months. Public works department has displayed that it has all the capabilities to handle the requirements of fast paced reconstruction of the state and to enhance its efficiency; it has started e-Tendering and e-Procurement, which is a great initiative.
