West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday laid the foundation stone for the ₹1,670-crore Gangasagar Setu project at Sagar Islands. The 4.8-km-long, four-lane bridge is expected to significantly improve connectivity, trade, tourism and disaster response for residents of the islands.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister took a veiled swipe at the BJP-led Union government, alleging that it had done little for the state. Without naming any central leaders, she said some people had recently visited the area and made false claims, adding that spreading lies and authoritarianism had become their only agenda.
She also defended the state government’s development narrative, saying Gangasagar itself stood as evidence of the work done under her administration. “Look at Gangasagar and you will understand what Trinamool has achieved. You did nothing for Bengal and only appear during elections,” she said, targeting the BJP.
Highlighting the importance of the project, Banerjee described the day as historic. The bridge, to be constructed by L&T over the next two years, will span the Muriganga River and connect Kakdwip on the mainland to Kachuberia in Sagar Islands.
According to the Chief Minister, the bridge will benefit around three lakh residents by facilitating trade, reducing transportation costs, generating employment and improving access to education. It will also make it easier to transport local agricultural produce and is expected to boost tourism. She added that the bridge would play a critical role during natural disasters by enabling faster delivery of relief.
Banerjee also spoke about the Kapil Muni Ashram, calling it “Bengal’s pride,” and noted that it had suffered extensive damage during a natural calamity last year before being renovated. She said infrastructure in Gangasagar was in poor condition before 2011 but had since been modernised, with facilities such as helipads now in place.
She added that ministers, senior officials and NGOs remain actively involved to ensure the smooth conduct of the Gangasagar Mela. Preparations, she said, begin well in advance, with regular monitoring and site visits by the administration.
Criticising what she termed discriminatory practices by other governments, Banerjee said the Bengal government ensures welfare schemes reach everyone without bias. She compared the state’s social welfare initiatives with those of the BJP, claiming that while others distribute money only around elections, her government has provided sustained benefits over the years.
The Chief Minister also inaugurated and laid foundation stones for other projects worth ₹2,323.3 crore. These included the inauguration of 96 projects valued at ₹394 crore and foundation stones for 70 projects worth ₹1,929.3 crore. Among them were the ‘Sagar Kanya’ 100-bed dormitory, built at a cost of ₹8.8 crore, and the ‘Ganganna’ tourism cottage.
Later in the day, Banerjee visited Bharat Sevashram Sangha and Kapil Muni Ashram to offer prayers. Speaking about preparations for the Gangasagar Mela, scheduled to begin on January 8, she said several meetings had already been held and a team of 10–12 officials would remain stationed at Gangasagar to oversee arrangements. “We are expecting more than one crore pilgrims to visit the Gangasagar Mela this time,” she said.