Agnimitra Paul's office will monitor CCTVs of 128 municipalities; pensions-allowances hiked to 2000

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has announced a significant expansion of the state's social safety net, doubling widow pensions, old-age pensions, and disability allowances from ₹1,000 to ₹2,000. The Chief Minister emphasized that his administration is committed to a 24/7 work culture, stating that accountability is no longer optional. In a major push for urban safety and to ensure continuous oversight, live feeds from CCTV cameras across 128 municipalities will now be directly linked to the office of the Minister for Urban Development, Agnimitra Paul. 

The Chief Minister also introduced a "polluter pays" principle regarding administrative and structural negligence. A formal letter is being sent to the Chief Secretary to establish a mechanism where compensation for loss of life or injury will be recovered directly from the negligent individuals or entities responsible.

Furthermore, a strict audit of municipal contracts has been initiated to address long-standing complaints of substandard work. Adhikari announced that pending payments to contractors will remain withheld until a thorough verification process confirms that projects meet the required standards. The Chief Minister has vowed to personally scrutinize and authorize the clearance of bills only after satisfactory completion of work, ensuring that taxpayer money is not wasted on incomplete or poor-quality infrastructure.