National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) plans to develop and widen the 443 km stretch expressway on NH-34 that connects Dalkhola in North Bengal with Kolkata. 

The project is estimated to cost around Rs.2,000 crore and will be primarily funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The state public works department (PWD) will assist NHAI in implementing the project and the centre and state governments will have to bear some amount of the cost, it is learnt.

The scope of work involves widening of existing two-lane highway into a four-lane high-speed corridor. Special care will be taken to develop parts of the highway that pass through town areas, such as Chakdah, Shantipur and Krisnanagar. 

NHAI is in the process of preparing a detailed project report and appointing consultants to carry out a survey into the present condition of the highway.

The proposed Eastern and Southern Expressway will connect NH-34 with the help of several state highways and link roads. The Belghoria Expressway is also to meet the highway near Madhyamgram on Jessore Road. This linking of roads will integrate the entire Kolkata Metropolitan Area.