Jalpaiguri, July 4: The alleged delay of the public works department (PWD) in upgrading state highways 12 and 12A into national highways and failing to send the details to the National Highway Survey Division in Calcutta has caused resentment among residents of the district.

The highways originate at Ghoshpukur near Siliguri, pass through Jalpaiguri and Mainaguri, and ends in Cooch Behar. Around seven months ago, the NH survey division had sent several reminders to the PWD about upgrading the state highways, but to no avail. ?The upgrade was decided at the Centre three years ago, but the project is yet to kick off,? said Gautam Pal, the secretary of the Jalpaiguri Sangrami Mancha, an apolitical body. The project was a proposal from the road transport ministry.

?Organisations in favour of the proposed alignment of the East-West corridor said there is an existing national highway on the route. But going by the plan, the ministry had three years ago decided to upgrade the Ghoshpukur-Jalpaiguri-Cooch Behar road into a national highway. This is the route we have proposed as the alternative alignment to the corridor,? Pal added.

PWD officials, however, said they had sent the documents earlier.