3 min readKolkataJul 15, 2026 12:46 AM IST
First published on: Jul 15, 2026 at 12:46 AM IST
In a major relief from Kolkata’s traffic, a new infrastructural initiative has been proposed by the administration: the Kolkata Ring Road Project. Part of the state urban development department’s six-month action plan, this massive corridor is aimed at revolutionising urban mobility in the city.
The West Bengal government has roped in IIT-Kharagpur to conduct a vital feasibility study and provide expert advice on the layout. Based on the initial blueprints, the project is envisioned as a dedicated 4- to 6-lane outer orbital corridor encircling four key districts: Kolkata, Howrah, North 24 Parganas, and South 24 Parganas.
The plan
The ring road project is aimed at curbing ‘inter-district’ and heavy freight traffic, by redirecting it to the outer periphery road. Long-distance commuters and commercial trucks can completely bypass central city limits, drastically reducing local traffic jams. Other cities such as Delhi, Bengaluru and Hyderabad also follow a similar plan.
Proposed route
While the plan remains in exploratory stage, officials have indicated a likely route to seamlessly weave together existing expressways and critical missing links:
River & western flank: The ring road is planned to run right alongside the Hooghly river, potentially linking the areas near Vidyasagar Setu and Nivedita Setu to divert heavy freight away from the port.
Southern loop: It is likely to extend through Howrah’s Panchla and Bauria, cross over to South 24 Parganas via a highly anticipated new Hooghly river crossing near Budge Budge, and move through Maheshtala, Garden Reach, Diamond Harbour Road, Amtala, Sonarpur, and Baruipur.
Northern & eastern links: From Panchla, the route is likely to leverage the Kona Expressway and Belghoria Expressway to connect with the Kalyani Expressway, further connecting with the Basanti Highway and Basirhat on the eastern flank.
Govt hails plan
The project is being hailed by the BJP as being integral to the state’s economic future.
Speaking to The Indian Express, Transport Minister Arjun Singh said, “A ring road is a great initiative but it requires a lot of other things. Huge funding is involved. Development work comes with a lot of challenges. In Bengal, convincing people that they need development is also challenging but when a government has clear intentions, every challenge can be overcome. Ring Road in Kolkata connecting districts will be one such milestone, when done.”
BJP leader Locket Chatterjee posted on her X handle: ”A city that moves faster is a city that grows stronger. The proposed Kolkata Ring Road will transform urban mobility by reducing congestion, cutting travel time, and seamlessly connecting Howrah, North 24 Parganas, and South 24 Parganas. A step towards a smarter, faster, and future-ready Kolkata.”
CM Suvendu Adhikari (File) 
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