West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today laid the foundation of a bridge between Haldibari and Mekhliganj over Teesta river here in Cooch Behar district today.
The bridge, which has been christened 'Joyee' would cut down the 85 km-long travel between the two places, Banerjee said.
The bridge will enable people to cross it in half-an- hour and save the two-and-half hour journey that it takes now, she said.
The demand for the bridge has been a long-standing one. The previous Left Front government did nothing to fulfil it, she told the public meeting on the occasion and added that it will cost the state Rs 440 crore.
Banerjee also inaugurated 25 projects and laid the foundation stone of 21 other projects at the programme, which saw enthusiastic participation by people of erstwhile enclaves which merged with the country made possible by the signing of the Land Boundary Agreement (LBA) with Bangladesh.
The Chief Minister greeted people of the adversely-held enclaves which merged with both the countries on their "second freedom".
She announced the setting up of a private and a government medical college in Cooch Behar district. Banerjee said a total 24 lakh girls had been enlisted for the 'Kanyasree' project and August 14 would be celebrated as 'Kanyasree Day'.
