The Hindu Business Line : Japanese body to fund fifth bridge over Hooghly

Mr Robert Ijier, Trade Commissioner, Economic Mission-Kolkata, Embassy of France in India, talking to Mr Biswadip Gupta (left), Chairman, West Bengal State Council, CII (Eastern Region) and Managing Director of Vesuvius India Ltd, and Mr Henry Jardine (right), Counsel General, American Consulate, Kolkata, at an investor meet `Haldia Calling' in Haldia on Thursday. - A. Roy Chowdhury

Kolkata , Nov 10

JAPAN International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has given an in-principle approval to fund the fifth bridge over river Hooghly between Raichak and Kukrahati.

The proposed bridge will be of great importance for the development of Haldia as it is expected to reduce the distance between Kolkata and the port city from 130 km to 80 km.

According to Mr Lakshman Seth, Chairman of Haldia Development Authority (HDA), JICA has confirmed its participation in a communication to the Union Ministry of Finance.

JICA will now prepare the detailed feasibility report of the whole project and it is likely to be ready next year.

Mr Seth said the Chief Minister, Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, had taken keen interest in this project. "The Union Finance Minister, Mr P. Chidambaram, had recently informed him about JICA's confirmation," he added.

He was talking to presspersons after addressing a CII-organised investors' meet at Haldia.

According to him, another bridge has been planned over the river Haldi and it will be constructed by HDA at a cost of Rs 70-75 crore.

He referred to a number of new initiatives at Haldia. A chemical park had also been planned at a place called Jellingham. Moreover, a software technology park is almost ready and will be inaugurated next month.

A 2,500-acre special economic zone is also being planned along the National Highway 6. According to Mr Seth, it will be constructed by HDA, IL&FS and Singapore Business Federation.

An agreement was signed between HDA and Haldia Integrated Development Agency Ltd on the development of the water distribution lines in the city.

Leading corporate houses operating in Haldia, such as Exide, Mitshubishi Chemicals, Haldia Petrochemicals made presentations at the meet.

The meet was addressed by the West Bengal Minister for Information Technology, Mr Manab Mukherjee. The State Health Minister, Dr Surya Kanta Mishra, was present.

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