Siliguri: Chief minister Suvendu Adhikari on Monday blamed the previous state govt’s “confrontation” with Centre for delays in completing Siliguri’s Bardhaman Road flyover-cum-rail overbridge, saying North Bengal’s infrastructure suffered for years because of political conflict.Inaugurating the Rs 70 crore flyover at Air View More, Adhikari said the project’s slow progress reflected a wider problem. “Pace of this project suffered because the previous govt believed in confrontation with Centre. North Bengal paid price,” he said.Conceived in 2018 to ease congestion at one of Siliguri’s busiest railway crossings, ROB was implemented jointly by state PWD, Siliguri Municipal Corporation and Indian Railways but faced repeated technical and administrative delays.Adhikari said BJP-led “double-engine govt” ushered in a new phase of coordinated development, especially for strategically located North Bengal. He cited higher allocations for North Bengal Development Department and GTA, land support for railway, BSF and airport projects, and plans for nearly 500 new ROBs across Bengal, with Railways bearing full cost.
