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The Coronation Bridge was built successful the representation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth from 1937 to 1941. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)
After much than 10 years, the West Bengal authorities has fixed its motion to the Teesta span project, which volition link Sikkim and West Bengal. The caller span volition not lone assistance boost tourism, but is besides important for strategical purposes.
Sources successful the authorities authorities said Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has fixed the greenish awesome to the Centre for the task and ordered the Public Works Department (PWD) to hole a Detail Project Report (DPR).
At present, determination is lone 1 British-era span connected the Teesta linking West Bengal and Sikkim. Why is this way important, what is the Centre’s plan, and wherefore has the caller span been held up for truthful long?
What is the existing bridge?
The Coronation Bridge was built successful the representation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth from 1937 to 1941. At that time, its operation outgo implicit Rs 1 lakh. Its instauration chromatic was laid by past Bengal Governor John Anderson.
Even aft much than 80 years, it remains the lone nexus betwixt West Bengal and Sikkim. The span was damaged successful the 2011 earthquake, aft which the Centre started readying an alternate span to summation connectivity betwixt the 2 states connected this strategically important route.
The Doklam standoff betwixt India and China successful 2017 made the operation of a caller span much urgent, arsenic the Coronation span is the lone lifeline for the equipped forces to transport indispensable instrumentality to the China and Bhutan borderline and subject bases.
Why has it taken 12 years?
According to officials, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was unhappy with the onshore acquisition needed for the project.
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A elder authoritative of the authorities Home section said, “There were immoderate onshore acquiring problems that stopped Mamata Banerjee from giving her go-ahead to this project. Banerjee is ever against forcefully acquiring land. However, with the autumn of the Hasina authorities successful Bangladesh and China’s expanding beingness astatine the Sikkim border, the information value of this span has go apparent. Thus, she has fixed her nod.”
The authoritative besides said, “Sikkim is besides 1 of the main tourer destinations for tourists from West Bengal. A caller span volition facilitate tourer flow.”
Atri Mitra is simply a Special Correspondent of The Indian Express with much than 20 years of acquisition successful reporting from West Bengal, Bihar and the North-East. He has been covering medication and governmental quality for much than 10 years and has a keen involvement successful governmental improvement successful West Bengal. Atri holds a Master grade successful Economics from Rabindrabharati University and Bachelor's grade from Calcutta University. He is besides an alumnus of St. Xavier's, Kolkata and Ramakrishna Mission Asrama, Narendrapur. He started his vocation with starring vernacular regular the Anandabazar Patrika, and worked determination for much than 15 years. He worked arsenic Bihar analogous for much than 3 years for Anandabazar Patrika. He covered the 2009 Lok Sabha predetermination and 2010 assembly elections. He besides worked with News18-Bangla and covered the Bihar Lok Sabha predetermination successful 2019. ... Read More
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