New Delhi, 16 January (H.S.): Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarks on a two-day visit to West Bengal on Saturday and Sunday, inaugurating infrastructure projects worth over ₹4,000 crore to bolster rail, road, and waterway connectivity across the eastern and northeastern regions.

Malda Rail and Road Powerhouse

At approximately 12:45 PM on January 17, Prime Minister Modi will flag off India’s inaugural Vande Bharat Sleeper Train from Malda Town Railway Station, connecting Howrah and Guwahati (Kamakhya). This fully air-conditioned service promises airline-like comfort at affordable fares, slashing the route’s travel time by 2.5 hours while boosting tourism and religious travel.

He will simultaneously launch the return Guwahati–Howrah Vande Bharat Sleeper.By 1:45 PM, PM Modi will dedicate and lay foundation stones for rail and road projects exceeding ₹3,250 crore. Rail initiatives include the Balurghat–Hili new line, next-generation freight facilities at New Jalpaiguri, Siliguri Loco Shed upgrades, and Vande Bharat maintenance modernization in Jalpaiguri.

Electrification of New Coochbehar–Bamanhat and New Coochbehar–Boxirhat lines will enable cleaner, faster operations. Four Amrit Bharat Express trains—New Jalpaiguri–Nagercoil, New Jalpaiguri–Tiruchirappalli, Alipurduar–SMVT Bengaluru, and Alipurduar–Mumbai (Panvel)—plus two LHB-coach services to Bengaluru from Radhikapur and Balurghat, will enhance long-distance links for students, workers, and traders.

The Dhupguri–Falakata NH-31D four-laning will streamline North Bengal logistics.Hooghly’s Waterway and Rail RevolutionOn January 18 at 3 PM in Singur, Hooghly,PM Modi will launch ₹830 crore projects, headlined by the Balagarh Extended Port Gate System spanning 900 acres with 2.7 million tonnes annual capacity.

Featuring dedicated jetties for containerized and dry bulk cargo, plus an Inland Water Transport terminal and Road Over Bridge, it diverts heavy traffic from Kolkata, cutting congestion, pollution, and enhancing MSME access.

A highlight includes Kolkata’s state-of-the-art Electric Catamaran—one of six indigenously built by Cochin Shipyard—accommodating 50 passengers with zero-emission electric and hybrid modes for urban mobility, eco-tourism, and last-mile Hooghly connectivity.

The Jayrambati–Barogopinathpur–Maynapur rail line, part of Tarkeshwar–Bishnupur, plus a new Maynapur–Jayrambati service, serves Bankura commuters and pilgrims. Three Amrit Bharat Express trains—Howrah–Anand Vihar Terminal, Sealdah–Banaras, and Santragachi–Tambaram—complete the package.

These initiatives position West Bengal and the Northeast as national growth engines through modernized infrastructure and seamless multimodal links.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar