Kolkata, 02 March (H.S.) : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday inaugurated the Kalyani Expressway from Netaji Indoor Stadium. The project, built at an estimated cost of 3500 crore rupees, aims to enhance connectivity between Kolkata and Kalyani. During the inauguration, the Chief Minister also handed over job appointment letters to one member from each of the 36 families of those who lost their lives in the SIR incident. She later participated in Holi celebrations, receiving greetings from the assembled crowd.

The Kalyani Expressway is a 40-kilometer signal-free corridor with 4/6 lanes and 21 flyovers. One end of the expressway connects to the Belgharia Expressway in Nimta, while the other links to the under-construction Ishwar Gupta Bridge over the Ganga and the major junction on National Highway 12. The expressway is expected to significantly improve travel between Kolkata and the districts of North 24 Parganas and Nadia, reducing travel time by half, which previously took around two hours.

Constructed under the supervision of the West Bengal Highway Development Corporation Limited, the expressway is expected to boost industrial and commercial activity in the region and create new employment opportunities. It is also anticipated to improve the daily commute for residents and enhance the socio-economic conditions of the area.

Families of the deceased who received home guard job appointment letters expressed their gratitude to the government and the Chief Minister. The inauguration coincided with pre-Holi festivities, which were enjoyed by both officials and the public, highlighting the expressway’s significance for regional development.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh