New Delhi: The newly formed BJP government in West Bengal has approved major land proposals aimed at strengthening security infrastructure along the India-Bangladesh border, marking one of the first major administrative decisions since the change in power in the state.
The move comes just weeks after the BJP, led by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, defeated Mamata Banerjee and ended the long rule of the All India Trinamool Congress in Bengal.
At a recent Cabinet meeting, the state government decided to release more than 600 acres of land to speed up fencing work along the nearly 2,200 kilometre India-Bangladesh border in the state. Around 1,600 kilometres of the border are already fenced, but several stretches remain incomplete.
The decision is being viewed as a significant boost for border security efforts, particularly in sensitive districts where fencing work had reportedly been delayed for years. Allegations had earlier been made by the BJP that the previous government did not cooperate fully with central agencies, especially the Border Security Force, in matters related to land allocation for border infrastructure.
The BJP had strongly campaigned on issues of illegal immigration and border management during the Assembly elections, promising stricter measures if voted to power.
Sources indicated that the Bengal government has already approved nearly 120 acres of land near the strategically important Siliguri Corridor, often referred to as the “Chicken’s Neck,” which serves as India’s only land connection to the northeastern states.
In another important decision, the government also cleared the transfer of seven National Highway stretches from the state Public Works Department to the National Highways Authority of India and the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited.
The projects had reportedly remained pending for almost a year due to the absence of formal approvals. With the latest clearance, development work on these highway stretches is expected to begin soon, improving connectivity across North Bengal and border districts including Malda, Murshidabad, Nadia and North 24 Parganas.
