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West Bengal has a well developed communication network
encompassing an extensive road and electrified railway system,
domestic and international airports, two major riverine ports,
and an as yet under utilized waterways system.
Road Sector:
Currently major emphasis is being given to the road sector with
several new roads having been completed including the 4 laning
of Kolkata to Delhi National Highway (NH2), Panagarh-Moregram,
Durgapur and Kona Expressways. Besides, NH6, NH34 and NH41
(connecting Haldia Port) are being taken up for upgrading,
widening and strengthening.
Length of Roads in the state of West Bengal by Categories and
Authorities as on 31st March, 1999(In Kilometre):
|
Categories/Authorities |
Road Length |
|
A. Highways |
58635 |
|
(i) National Highways
(ii) State Highways
(iii) P.W.D Roads other than National and State Highways
(iv) Panchayat Raj Roads
|
1715
3354
12288
41278
|
|
B. Urban Roads |
24879 |
|
(i) Municipal Roads
(ii) Military Engineering Service Roads
(iii) Railway Roads
(iv) Port Roads
|
22596
895
1241
147
|
|
C. Project Roads |
6670 |
|
Total (A+B+C) |
90184 |
Source: Economic Review (2003-2004), Govt. of West Bengal
Railway
Sector:
To serve
the long distance passenger traffic, the Railway operates a
large number of fast long distance Mail/ Express trains, the
pride of place being occupied by Rajdhani Express, which was
introduced for the first time on Indian Railways between Howrah
(West Bengal) and Delhi over Eastern and Northern Railways in
1969.
Kolkata,
the capital city holds the headquarter of Eastern Railway.
Eastern Railway is important to the economy of the country, as
apart from serving the most densely populated region in the
country, this Railway also serves the area rich in minerals,
agriculture and industry. Kolkata also has the first underground
railway in India. It extends from Dum-Dum near Netaji Subhas
Chandra Bose airport, Kolkata to Tollygunj, the busy north south
axis of Kolkata over a length of 16.45 kms. There are seventeen
stations en route at about one km apart.
Airports:
Two
Airports, one at Kolkata in the southern part of the state and
another at Bagdogra in the northern part of the state
• Kolkata
has two separate airports, one for domestic and one for
international. Bagdogra is exclusively a domestic airport.
Ports:
The state
has India’s only riverine port, the Kolkata Port, with two dock
systems – Kolkata Dock System at Kolkata and Haldia Dock Complex
at Haldia. Some of the features of Kolkata Port are:
• The
largest dry dock facilities in Haldia.
• The
cheapest container rate at Haldia.
• The
lowest pre-berthing detention of Vessels at Kolkata Dock System.
• The most
modern Vessel Traffic Management System, allied navigational
aids.
• The
total cargo handled by the Kolkata Port in the year 2003-2004
was 41.052 million tonnes.
• Kolkata
Port has been ranked ‘Third’ amongst Major Ports of India in
terms of cargo traffic handled during 2003-2004.
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