West Bengal Deploys 23 Senior IAS Officers to Fast-Track Welfare and Infrastructure Projects Ahead of 2026 Assembly Elections
In a significant administrative push ahead of the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has appointed 23 senior IAS officers as district-level observers to intensify monitoring of key welfare and development programmes across the state. The decision aims to ensure that government schemes are implemented swiftly and effectively, with special focus on districts where project progress has been lagging.
This deployment was formally announced through a notification issued by Chief Secretary Manoj Pant, following the Chief Minister’s directive to strengthen oversight mechanisms in all districts.
Major Push for Quick Execution of Flagship Schemes
According to senior government officials, secretary-level IAS officers have been given clear instructions to ensure that ongoing initiatives are completed well before the coming polls. With assembly election dates expected to be declared by early March, the government is accelerating the pace of major programmes such as:
Banglar Bari (affordable housing)
Pathashree (road improvement)
Rastashree (rural road connectivity)
Amader Para, Amader Samadhan (localised grievance redressal and development support)
Officials said the objective is to remove bottlenecks, increase accountability, and guarantee that benefits reach citizens without delay.
Coordination With District Magistrates and Direct Reporting to Secretariat
The designated observers will coordinate closely with district magistrates to monitor on-ground progress, identify gaps, and recommend corrective actions. They are also expected to oversee grievance redress systems, which include helpdesks set up to collect citizen complaints regarding stalled projects or delayed services.
These officers must submit periodic reports directly to the state secretariat, enabling the administration to track performance district-wise and intervene whenever required.
Key Officers and Their Assigned Districts
Among the 23 deputed officers, several have been entrusted with important and politically significant districts:
Mr. Santanu Basu, Secretary, Information & Cultural Affairs — Kolkata
Mr. N.S. Nigam, Secretary, Health Department — South 24 Parganas
Mr. P. Ulganathan, Secretary, Panchayat & Rural Development — Malda
Mr. Rajesh Pandey, Secretary, MSME Department — Nadia
Mr. Soumitra Mohan, Secretary, Transport Department — Kalimpong
The selection reflects a strategic deployment of experienced administrators who are familiar with district-level challenges and capable of pushing rapid development.
Government’s Broader Objective
This extensive reshuffle underscores the Bengal government’s determination to deliver visible development outcomes and to strengthen last-mile delivery of welfare schemes ahead of the elections. By placing senior IAS officers directly in charge of monitoring, the administration hopes to ensure transparency, efficiency, and faster completion of public projects across the state.
The move is widely seen as part of a larger effort to showcase administrative performance and reinforce public confidence as the state prepares for a high-stakes electoral season.
