A fourth bridge over the Hooghly River is set to be built at Bagnan in Howrah district, linking to Pujali in South 24 Parganas, as part of the Varanasi–Kolkata Expressway. The Centre has accepted the West Bengal government’s proposal, marking a key infrastructure milestone for the state.
The project aims to decongest the Grand Trunk Road and cut travel time between Varanasi and Kolkata from nearly 14 hours to around six. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will execute the project, while the West Bengal Public Works Department handles land acquisition.
Currently, Kolkata has three bridges across the Hooghly — Rabindra Setu, Vidyasagar Setu, and Nivedita Setu. The new structure will become the fourth major link, easing vehicular movement and boosting connectivity between southern and western Bengal.
The ₹35,000-crore expressway project had its foundation stone laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in February 2024, with completion initially targeted for March 2028. However, the state’s proposal to include a new bridge has slightly altered the alignment, likely extending the deadline.
Officials say the expressway and the new bridge together will significantly reduce traffic pressure on the existing route to Delhi, support industrial growth in western districts, and enhance logistics efficiency across the region.
