West Bengal gets ₹1,042 crore CRIF road projects; CM Adhikari thanks Modi
Synopsis
The Centre has sanctioned ₹1,042.62 crore for six road infrastructure projects in West Bengal under the CRIF scheme, covering 194 km across four historically underserved districts including tribal-belt Junglemahal. CM Adhikari's public thanks to Modi and Gadkari also carries pointed political undertones — implying the previous TMC government left this money on the table by feuding with the Centre.
Key Takeaways
West Bengal receives administrative approval for six road projects worth ₹1,042.62 crore under the CRIF scheme for 2026–27 .
Projects will cover over 194 kilometres across Bankura , Purulia , West Midnapore , and Jhargram districts.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari publicly thanked PM Narendra Modi and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari in a social media post on 16 September 2026 .
The state PWD had originally submitted the proposal to MoRTH before the sanction was accorded.
A BJP leader credited the 'double-engine government' and alleged the previous TMC regime had blocked similar central support through its confrontational approach.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Tuesday, 16 September 2026, publicly thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari after the Centre accorded administrative approval to six major road infrastructure projects in the state under the Central Road Infrastructure Fund (CRIF) scheme for 2026–27, with a combined outlay of ₹1,042.62 crore. The projects will cover over 194 kilometres of road networks spread across North Bengal, South Bengal, and the tribal-dominated Junglemahal region.
Projects and Coverage
The approved corridors span four districts — Bankura, Purulia, West Midnapore, and Jhargram — areas that have historically lagged in road connectivity owing to their remote and largely tribal character. According to the Chief Minister, the state Public Works Department (PWD) had submitted the original proposal to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), which then processed the sanction.
What the Chief Minister Said
'On behalf of the Government and the People of West Bengal, I express our sincere gratitude to Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji, Hon'ble Union Minister Shri Nitin Gadkari Ji and the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), Government of India, for according administrative approval to 6 major road infrastructure projects under the CRIF Scheme for 2026–27, amounting to Rs 1,042.62 crore,' Adhikari said in a social media post. He added that the state PWD would 'ensure timely execution and adherence to the highest quality standards,' promising 'smoother journeys, improved logistics and robust economic growth' for citizens.
Political Context
A state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader framed the approval as evidence that the 'double-engine government' — a phrase used to describe BJP rule at both the Centre and the state — is delivering on infrastructure. The leader alleged that the previous All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) administration under former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had repeatedly been at odds with the Union Government, with ordinary citizens bearing the cost of that friction. The claims could not be independently verified and the TMC has not responded publicly as of the time of reporting.
Why This Matters
The CRIF scheme is a central pool funded by a cess on fuel, channelled to states for road development. Sanctions of this scale are significant for eastern India, where freight logistics and rural access remain persistent bottlenecks. Junglemahal — covering parts of Bankura, Purulia, West Midnapore, and Jhargram — has seen repeated calls for improved connectivity to drive economic inclusion in one of West Bengal's most underserved zones. The ₹1,042.62 crore allocation is among the larger single-state CRIF tranches announced this fiscal year.
What Happens Next
With administrative approval now in place, the state PWD is expected to move toward tendering and project execution. Chief Minister Adhikari has publicly committed to timely delivery, though no specific project-completion timeline was announced. Progress on the ground will be closely watched given the political significance attached to this approval by both the ruling party and its critics.
Point of View
042 crore sanction is substantive infrastructure news for one of eastern India's most connectivity-starved zones, but the announcement is also doing political heavy lifting. Adhikari's very public gratitude is a calculated contrast to the TMC era, framing the BJP's Centre-state relationship as transactional and productive where the previous one was adversarial. The real accountability test, however, comes at execution: CRIF sanctions have historically faced delays at the tendering and land-acquisition stage in Bengal. Whether the 194 km gets built on time — and to standard — will matter far more than the approval headline.
NationPress
16 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the CRIF scheme and why was it sanctioned for West Bengal?
The Central Road Infrastructure Fund (CRIF) is a central pool funded by a fuel cess, used to finance road development in states. The Centre accorded administrative approval for six projects worth ₹1,042.62 crore in West Bengal under the CRIF scheme for 2026–27, following a proposal submitted by the state PWD to MoRTH.
Which districts in West Bengal will benefit from the ₹1,042 crore road projects?
The projects will improve road connectivity across Bankura, Purulia, West Midnapore, and Jhargram — four districts that include the tribal-dominated Junglemahal region. Together, they cover over 194 kilometres of vital road networks across North Bengal, South Bengal, and Junglemahal.
Who are the key figures involved in this road infrastructure approval?
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari of West Bengal thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari for the approval. The state PWD submitted the original proposal to MoRTH, which then processed the sanction.
What is the political significance of this road infrastructure announcement?
The approval comes under a BJP government at both the Centre and the state, which the party has described as a 'double-engine government.' A BJP leader alleged that the previous TMC administration under Mamata Banerjee had missed similar opportunities due to its confrontational relationship with the Centre, though the TMC has not publicly responded to these claims.
What happens next after the administrative approval?
The state PWD is expected to proceed with tendering and project execution following the administrative approval. Chief Minister Adhikari has committed to timely delivery and quality standards, though no specific completion timeline for the projects has been announced yet.
