Laying the foundation of the new South 24-Parganas district headquarters at Baruipur's Dhopagachhi on Wednesday, chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee said: "Several colleges, universities, education institutes and research centres will come up here and people would not have to go to the city to avail these facilities."

The CM said the state is in touch with the Centre on setting up some training centres. "The national institute of pharmaceuticals and other national institutes will be set up here. A research centre on the Sunderbans mangrove forest will also come up. I have contacted Union minister Kapil Sibal about setting up a oceanography research centre," he said.

Bhattacharjee said people had demanded that the South 24-Parganas district headquarters be shifted from Alipore. "So, I asked our land and land reforms minister Abdur Rezzak Mollah to identity land for the purpose. Finally, this area was identified. This is the ideal spot as it also has a good rail connection and road network," the chief minister said.

He added around 500 acre was acquired in the area without facing any resistance. "KMDA will take up the work of shifting the DM and SP offices, the police line, the district court, Alipore jail and the zilla parishad offices. Even the MR Bangur hospital would be shifted here. Flats for people from all income categories will be constructed here. Commercial complexes, district irrigation and education offices will also come up," he said. However, he assured that the place would not be converted into a concrete jungle. "There will be enough greenery," he said.