Bengal CM Mamata announces Kalimpong Medical College, 21-km ropeway for North Bengal
Synopsis
West Bengal's Chief Minister has unveiled a sweeping development package for North Bengal's hill districts — a new medical college in Kalimpong, a 21-km ropeway between Darjeeling and Kurseong, ₹19 crore for the Mahakal Temple, and stadium and tourist lodge upgrades — signalling a major state push into a region long seen as politically and infrastructurally underserved.
Key Takeaways
Foundation stone of Kalimpong Medical College and Hospital to be laid on 9 December 2027 .
Hospitals in Darjeeling , Kurseong , Kalimpong , Mirik , and Siliguri to undergo modernisation and repairs.
A 21-kilometre ropeway connecting Darjeeling and Kurseong has been approved. ₹19 crore allocated for beautification and maintenance of the Mahakal Temple in Darjeeling.
Lebong Ground to be upgraded to an international-standard modern stadium.
BJP Lok Sabha MP Raju Bista welcomed the announcements, calling them transformative for North Bengal's economy.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday, 3 November 2026, chaired an administrative review meeting at Siliguri in Darjeeling district, unveiling a cluster of development announcements covering healthcare, tourism, sports infrastructure, and heritage conservation for the hill regions of North Bengal. The decisions, taken at the northern-sector review, are among the most wide-ranging administrative commitments for the region in recent memory.
Key Healthcare Announcements
The most significant healthcare move is the laying of the foundation stone of Kalimpong Medical College and Hospital, scheduled for 9 December 2027. The Chief Minister also directed extensive repairs, modernisation, and infrastructural upgrades to sub-division and district hospitals across Darjeeling, Kurseong, Kalimpong, Mirik, and Siliguri.
According to the Chief Minister, strengthening health infrastructure in North Bengal will ensure that thousands of residents in the region no longer need to travel elsewhere for quality medical treatment — a recurring concern for communities in the remote hill districts.
21-Kilometre Ropeway to Link Darjeeling and Kurseong
The review meeting also saw the approval of a 21-kilometre ropeway project connecting Darjeeling and Kurseong. Once operational, the ropeway is expected to ease severe traffic congestion on the narrow mountain roads — a perennial challenge for both daily commuters and tourists — while also enhancing the travel experience for domestic and international visitors to the hills.
This comes amid a broader push by the state government to develop hill tourism as a sustainable economic driver for North Bengal, a region that has historically relied on tea, tourism, and trade with neighbouring states and countries.
Tourism, Sports, and Heritage Upgrades
The Chief Minister gave directions to complete the repair and renovation of all government tourist lodges in the region at the earliest. She also approved the upgrade of Lebong Ground into a modern stadium meeting international standards, aimed at nurturing sporting talent among the hill youth.
Notably, an allocation of ₹19 crore was announced for the beautification, infrastructural transformation, and regular maintenance of the Mahakal Temple premises in Darjeeling — a sacred and historically significant site that draws pilgrims and cultural tourists alike.
Political Response
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Lok Sabha member from Darjeeling, Raju Bista, welcomed the announcements, stating that the expansion of communication systems, health services, sports, and spiritual tourism would create employment opportunities for local youth and 'completely transform the economic landscape of North Bengal.' The cross-party appreciation is notable given the historically contested political climate in Darjeeling.
What Comes Next
Timelines for the ropeway project and tourist lodge renovations were not specified at the meeting, and execution will be closely watched by local stakeholders. With the Kalimpong Medical College foundation stone set for December 2027, the immediate measure of intent will be progress on the hospital and district-level infrastructure upgrades in the near term.
Point of View
And a raft of state-funded projects unveiled there signals the Trinamool Congress government's intent to contest that ground on development credentials rather than identity politics. The ropeway and medical college are headline-grabbing, but execution timelines remain vague, and the region has seen past promises stall. The ₹19 crore for the Mahakal Temple is also a clear pitch to Hindu pilgrimage tourism, a segment the state has not historically prioritised. Whether these commitments translate into ground-level change — or remain electoral optics — will depend on whether monitoring mechanisms are put in place before the next election cycle.
NationPress
3 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When will the Kalimpong Medical College and Hospital be built?
The foundation stone of Kalimpong Medical College and Hospital is scheduled to be laid on 9 December 2027, as announced by the West Bengal Chief Minister at the Siliguri review meeting. Detailed construction timelines beyond the foundation-stone date were not disclosed at the meeting.
What is the Darjeeling-Kurseong ropeway project?
It is a 21-kilometre ropeway project connecting Darjeeling and Kurseong, approved at the administrative review meeting in Siliguri on 3 November 2026. The project is designed to ease traffic congestion on mountain roads and improve connectivity for residents and tourists.
How much has been allocated for the Mahakal Temple in Darjeeling?
The West Bengal Chief Minister announced an allocation of ₹19 crore for the beautification, infrastructural transformation, and regular maintenance of the Mahakal Temple premises in Darjeeling. The temple is a historically and religiously significant site in the hill region.
What sports infrastructure was announced for North Bengal?
The Chief Minister approved the upgrade of Lebong Ground in the hill region into a modern stadium meeting international standards. The move is aimed at developing sporting talent among the youth of North Bengal's hill communities.
What did BJP MP Raju Bista say about the announcements?
BJP Lok Sabha member from Darjeeling, Raju Bista, welcomed the announcements, saying that expanded communication systems, health services, sports facilities, and spiritual tourism would create employment for local youth and transform North Bengal's economic landscape. His response was notable given the historically oppositional political dynamic between the BJP and the state government in Darjeeling.
