PM Modi Launches ₹3,250-Crore Rail & Road Boost for Bengal

• Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan met former Uttarakhand CM B.C. Khanduri in Dehradun.
• Meeting reflected decades-old personal and professional rapport.
• VP recalled Khanduri’s role in expanding national highways in Tamil Nadu.
• Praised his contribution to Golden Quadrilateral and road infrastructure.

GG News Bureau
Malda, 17th Jan: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of multiple rail and road infrastructure projects worth more than ₹3,250 crore in Malda, marking a major step toward the modernisation of Indian Railways and improved connectivity for West Bengal and the North-Eastern region. Addressing a large gathering, he said the event signalled a new phase of accelerated development for Bengal and would create employment opportunities for local youth while boosting trade and travel.

In a historic move, the Prime Minister flagged off India’s first Vande Bharat Sleeper train between Howrah and Kamakhya (Guwahati). Calling it a symbol of “New India’s railway vision,” Modi said the fully air-conditioned sleeper service would provide airline-like comfort at affordable fares and reduce travel time on the route by around 2.5 hours. He described it as a cultural bridge between the land of Maa Kali and Maa Kamakhya and said similar trains would soon expand across the country.

Modi also virtually launched four new Amrit Bharat Express trains from North Bengal — New Jalpaiguri–Nagercoil, New Jalpaiguri–Tiruchirappalli, Alipurduar–Bengaluru and Alipurduar–Mumbai (Panvel). He said these services would significantly strengthen connectivity between Bengal, especially North Bengal, and South and Western India while benefiting pilgrims travelling to Gangasagar, Dakshineswar and Kalighat.

The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for four major railway projects, including a new rail line between Balurghat and Hili, a next-generation freight maintenance facility at New Jalpaiguri, upgradation of the Siliguri Loco Shed, and modernisation of Vande Bharat maintenance facilities in Jalpaiguri district. He also dedicated to the nation the electrification of rail lines between New Coochbehar–Bamanhat and New Coochbehar–Boxirhat, enabling faster, cleaner and more energy-efficient operations.

To further improve long-distance connectivity, Modi flagged off two new LHB-coach trains — Radhikapur–SMVT Bengaluru Express and Balurghat–SMVT Bengaluru Express — aimed at benefiting students, IT professionals and migrant workers travelling to Bengaluru. On the road front, he laid the foundation stone for the four-laning of the Dhupguri–Falakata section of National Highway-31D to enhance regional mobility in North Bengal.

Highlighting India’s growing self-reliance, Modi said Indian Railways now manufactures more locomotives than the US and Europe and exports coaches globally. He concluded that “connecting India is a priority and reducing distances is a mission,” clearly reflected in the day’s initiatives. The event was attended by West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose, Union Ministers Ashwini Vaishnav, Shantanu Thakur and state BJP chief Sukanta Majumdar.