Adhikari directs officials to fast-track Rs 55,000-crore central projects
Times of India | 21 July 2026
Kolkata: CM Suvendu Adhikari has sought faster implementation of 12 infrastructure projects worth more than Rs 55,000 crore that have remained stuck in Bengal over the past several years due to various bottlenecks.
Officials said the projects — by central PSUs and central agencies — were delayed because of issues ranging from land acquisition hurdles and pending statutory clearances to other administrative approvals.
Recently, during a high-level review meeting, Adhikari instructed the departments concerned to coordinate closely with central PSUs and resolve pending issues on a priority basis.
The projects span key sectors, including transport and highways, oil and gas and coal, and are expected to significantly boost investment, generate employment and strengthen the state’s infrastructure once implemented.
“Last week, the CM chaired a meeting with all central PSUs and central agencies to get a first-hand report on their projects that have been stalled in Bengal for the past several years. The representatives of the companies informed him about the reasons that delayed the projects. Many projects remain stalled. The CM instructed officials to facilitate and resolve the issues at the earliest,” a senior state govt official said.
The implementation of three projects of the ministry of petroleum and natural gas, worth around Rs 39,000 crore, was delayed due to land issues.
“GAIL’s 162-km Rajarambati-Haldia pipeline was originally slated for completion in Dec 2020. The Rs 2,500-crore project was stalled for nearly two years along stretches covering around 20 km in Howrah and East Midnapore. Following a change in the state administration, the required approvals were granted on a priority basis. However, approval is still pending for only 2.2 km of the route,” a ministry official said. This pipeline is part of the Rs 17,405-crore Jagdishpur-Haldia and Bokaro-Dhamra Pipeline Project.
The Rs 9,265-crore North East Gas Grid project has been delayed by 28 months from its targeted date of completion over unavailability of 34.9 km of land in Jalpaiguri.
The Paradip-Numaligarh Crude Oil Pipeline and Crude Oil Import Terminal at Paradip project worth Rs 12,407 crore got stuck in Jalpaiguri following resistance faced in RoU (Right of Use) opening, affecting 28.3 km of the pipeline, the MoPNG official added.
The coal ministry’s Rs 2,661 crore Master Plan for Jharia and Raniganj Coalfields project has been delayed by 114 months due to rehabilitation of 8,704 families at three resettlement sites across 10,304 flats in West Burdwan, pending with the Asansol Durgapur Development Authority.
There has been little progress in work for the Tilaboni Underground Mine as forest clearance for 38.4 hectares is pending with the state forest department.
Similarly, seven national highway and economic corridor projects worth over Rs 12,600 crore undertaken by the ministry of road transport and highways and NHAI have been delayed due to land and compensation issues, an official said.
Stalled Projects:
Rajarambati-Haldia Gas Pipeline
Rs 2,500-crore (part of Rs 17,405-crore Jagdishpur-Haldia and Bokaro-Dhamra Pipeline Project)
North East Gas Grid
Rs 9,265-crore
Paradip-Numaligarh Crude Oil Pipeline
Rs 12,407 crore
Master Plan for Jharia and Raniganj Coalfields
Rs 2,661 crore
Tilaboni Underground Mine
Seven national highway and economic corridor projects