The Central government gave its nod to the special repair works of Farakka Barrage project on 26 December 2008. The repair works involves an investment outlay of Rs.350 crore.

The works include repair of unlined canal banks, construction of road bridges and cross-drainage works across the feeder canal; special repairs and improvement of rail-cum-road bridge at Farakka Barrage and canal head regulator. Apart from this, additional works will also be undertaken for the safety of Farakka Barrage which include repairs of Jangipur barrage and project colonies including hospital and school buildings besides the river training and anti-erosion works in critical reaches along the river Ganga-Padma and Bhagirathi.

The Farakka Barrage Project, constructed in 1975 with the prime objective of preservation of Kolkata Port and for increasing the navigation depth of the Bhagirathi-Hooghly waterway, has a 2,225 m long barrage across Ganga with a canal head regulator to divert 40,000 cusec of water through a feeder canal for inland navigation to maintain Kolkata Port. Due to its continuous use, most of the barrage gates, feeder canal and appurtenant works need special repairs and upkeep of the operating system.