States » EastPosted at: Oct 12 2026 2:09PM


WB CM announces one lakh govt jobs by May 2027, highlights Orange Line trial run

Kolkata, Oct 12 (UNI) West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Monday highlighted the commencement of trial runs on the Beleghata-Sector V stretch of the Orange Line as a major infrastructure achievement of his government, while announcing a target of one lakh government recruitments by May 8, 2027.
Speaking at the inauguration of the Ozen Hotel near Akankha Crossing in New Town, Adhikari said the Chingrighata bottleneck on the Orange Line had held up the project for months and claimed that his government had cleared the long-pending issue within 17 days.
"You have seen what a major achievement the Chingrighata Metro is. The government kept it pending for 17 months; we gave the clearance in 17 days," Adhikari said.
Trial runs on the Beleghata-IT Centre (Sector V) section of the Kavi Subhash-Jai Hind Bimanbandar corridor, popularly known as the Orange Line, began on October 10, marking the first time a Metro rake traversed the completed stretch between Beleghata and Sector V. The trial is also testing the Communication-Based Train Control (CBTC) signalling system.
The trial phase is expected to continue for several weeks as Metro authorities undertake software alignment, system synchronisation, signalling and other technical and operational checks. The stretch includes three stations — Gour Kishore Ghosh, Nalban and IT Centre at Sector V — and passenger services have been targeted around Christmas, subject to successful trials and the requisite clearances.
The progress follows the completion of a 366-metre viaduct gap at Chingrighata, where work had remained stalled for a prolonged period. RVNL subsequently completed the viaduct and track-laying work, allowing the Beleghata-Sector V section to be connected.
The Orange Line currently operates between Kavi Subhash and Beleghata. Once the Sector V extension is opened to passengers, the operational stretch will extend to more than 14 km. The eventual corridor is planned to connect Kavi Subhash with the airport.
Adhikari linked the infrastructure push with his government's broader development agenda and said West Bengal would play a major role in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a developed India.
"We have no personal agenda and no political agenda. We have only one agenda: a developed India. And West Bengal will make a major contribution to that developed India. That is our only objective," he said.
The CM also announced that his government would complete one lakh government recruitments by May 8, 2027, saying the appointment of 11,000 young men and women to the police force ahead of Durga Puja marked the beginning of the process.
"I took oath on May 9, 2026. By May 8, 2027, there will be one lakh recruitments. The distribution of 11,000 appointment letters today marks the beginning of that process," he said.
Adhikari said political considerations would not be allowed to influence government recruitment.
"Today we have said that there will be no political people involved in recruitment, starting from the recruitment committees. As Chief Minister, I have only wanted to hand appointment letters to my brothers and sisters who are qualified. West Bengal will see that," he said.
He said the government had resolved a deadlock relating to OBC and EWS issues and claimed that the 11,000 police appointments were being made on merit.
"There was a deadlock over OBC and EWS. We have removed that deadlock, and that is why these young people have now been appointed on the basis of merit," he said.
Adhikari said Bengal needed greater regular police recruitment, pointing to what he described as a low police-to-population ratio in the state.
"Across India, there are 155 police personnel per one lakh people. The BJP government in Uttar Pradesh has 200 police personnel per lakh. West Bengal has the lowest — only 105 per lakh. The state had become excessively dependent on civic volunteers. We are bringing it out of that situation," he said.
He also promised that recruitment through the PSC, SSC and other government agencies would be conducted without political interference.
"I commit to you that during the remaining four-and-a-half years, whether it is the PSC, SSC or Staff Recruitment, this government will not allow a single action in government recruitment that could force you to go to court. We will recruit on the basis of merit," he said.
Turning to investment and employment, Adhikari said a Rs 6,000-crore investment at Haldia Petrochemicals would be inaugurated on October 14.
"Only when people have money in their hands, and only when people have employment, can festivals and Puja be celebrated properly. People can practise their religion and enjoy themselves with their families," he said.
"That is why, even during Puja, we are carrying out developmental work. It is not merely about lighting lamps or cutting ribbons; we are also doing actual work," he added.
Adhikari also highlighted a sharp rise in revenue collection from the stone sector in Birbhum, saying the district had recorded an all-time single-day record of Rs 3.44 crore from stone DCR on the first day of Navratri.
In a post on X, he compared the figure with the entire October collection of Rs 3.28 crore recorded under the previous government last year and said Rs 32.17 crore had already been collected during the first 11 days of October this year.
Adhikari said he was optimistic that the state would cross the target of collecting Rs 100 crore a month from stone revenue and credited the Birbhum district administration and the Land Office with preventing revenue evasion.
The Chief Minister's post on X said, "On the second day of auspicious Navratri, I bow at the feet of Maa Brahmacharini. May Maa bring happiness, peace, and prosperity into everyone's life.
''Today, I want to share a notable success of Birbhum district administration with the humble people of West Bengal. Yesterday, on the very first day of Navratri, a total of Rs 3.44 crore in revenue was collected from the stone DCR, which is an all-time record for a single day's collection.''
''Notably, during the previous government's tenure last year, only Rs 3.28 crore was collected in this sector throughout the entire month of October.
''In the first 11 days of the current October alone, Rs 32.17 crore has been collected. I am optimistic that this time we will surpass the target of collecting 100 crore rupees per month from stone revenue.''
Adhikari extended his heartfelt thanks to the Birbhum district administration and the Land Office for this success in preventing revenue evasion and increasing the government's treasury income. ''Transparent administration and discipline in revenue collection—this is our commitment. Jai Maa Durga, " he added.
Adhikari also took a swipe at former chief minister Mamata Banerjee while contrasting the present administration's performance with that of the previous government.
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Tags: #WB CM announces one lakh govt jobs by May 2027# highlights Orange Line trial run
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