Howrah: The state govt will undertake a Rs 4,700-crore infrastructure project in two phases to tackle chronic waterlogging and upgrade civic facilities in Howrah and Bally ahead of the municipal elections. The first phase, estimated at Rs 470 crore, will begin this month. This phase will run from Jan 1, 2027 to Dec 31, 2030.Howrah north MLA and minister of state for municipal affairs Umesh Rai said priority work in areas with the worst roads and waterlogging would be completed before Durga Puja. The remaining preliminary work is expected to conclude by Nov. Rai said plans are also being drawn up to develop Howrah as Kolkata’s twin city.A senior Howrah Municipal Corporation engineer said HMC and Howrah Improvement Trust engineers had jointly prepared the draft plan for the first phase. Work from mid-Sept will include filling potholes, repairing roads, raising road levels in vulnerable areas and repairing main drains. Drain-cleaning will also be taken up.The long-term plan will focus on permanent solutions, including road widening, a modern drainage network and channelling Howrah’s wastewater into the Hooghly through multiple treatment plants.KMDA engineers are preparing the detailed plan with inputs from experts at IIEST Shibpur.
