West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced Tuesday that a comprehensive development roadmap for North Bengal is ready to ensure central schemes reach hills [1].
The initiative seeks to address long-standing infrastructure gaps in the northern region and its hill districts, including Darjeeling, by integrating federal welfare programs with state execution [1, 2].
Adhikari said the government has prepared a detailed plan to fulfill the developmental aspirations of the region [1]. He said that all central welfare and development schemes will be delivered to the hill populations [1, 2].
As part of this push, the administration plans to establish several high-profile institutions in North Bengal. These include an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), and a dedicated cancer hospital [3, 4]. Adhikari also said the government will create additional medical colleges to strengthen the healthcare network [3].
This announcement follows earlier statements made on May 20, when Adhikari emphasized the importance of the region to the BJP [3]. He said the government will prioritize the aspirations of North Bengal because the region has consistently supported the party [3].
"We have prepared a comprehensive roadmap for the development of North Bengal and all central schemes will reach the hills," Adhikari said [2].
The Chief Minister's focus on the northern districts is intended to bridge the economic and social divide between the hills and the plains of West Bengal [1, 3]. By bringing national-level education and healthcare facilities to the region, the administration aims to reduce the need for residents to travel to Kolkata or other major cities for specialized services [3, 4].
"We will establish AIIMS, IIT, and a dedicated cancer centre in North Bengal," Adhikari said [4].
“"We have prepared a comprehensive roadmap for the development of North Bengal and all central schemes will reach the hills."”
The commitment to establish an IIT and AIIMS in North Bengal represents a strategic effort to decentralize elite education and healthcare in West Bengal. By anchoring these institutions in the north, the administration is attempting to stimulate regional economic growth and solidify political loyalty in the hill districts, which have historically faced infrastructure deficits compared to the south.
