THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

NEW DELHI, JANUARY 18, 2026

Reiterating that the journey towards a developed India is inseparable from the progress of Eastern India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said the Union Government is working continuously and with commitment to unlock the region’s vast potential. Addressing a large gathering at Singur in West Bengal’s Hooghly district, the Prime Minister inaugurated, laid the foundation stone of and flagged off a series of development projects worth over ₹830 crore, marking a major boost to the state’s infrastructure, connectivity and economic prospects.

Highlighting his engagements across the state, Shri Modi said that after being in Malda a day earlier, it was his privilege to be among the people of Hooghly, underscoring that consecutive programmes over the past two days reflected the Centre’s firm resolve to accelerate West Bengal’s development. He noted that projects worth hundreds of crores had been inaugurated and launched during this period, reinforcing the government’s focus on inclusive and region-balanced growth.

The Prime Minister described the last 24 hours as unprecedented for West Bengal’s rail connectivity. He pointed out that the country’s first Vande Bharat Sleeper Train had been launched from the state, alongside nearly half a dozen new Amrit Bharat Express trains. On Saturday, three more Amrit Bharat Express services were flagged off, including a train that will further strengthen connectivity between Varanasi, his parliamentary constituency, and Bengal. Additional Amrit Bharat Express trains for Delhi and Tamil Nadu were also launched, reflecting the growing national rail network with Bengal as a key hub.

Emphasising the state’s immense potential in waterways, Shri Modi said the Union Government is investing in port-led development and supporting the creation of modern infrastructure to harness river and maritime advantages. He inaugurated and laid foundation stones for multiple port and inland waterway projects, describing them as vital pillars that can transform West Bengal into a major centre for manufacturing, trade and logistics. Congratulating the people of the state, he said these initiatives would play a decisive role in shaping both Bengal’s and India’s economic future.

The Prime Minister highlighted sustained investments made over the past 11 years to expand the capacity of Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Port, coupled with improved road connectivity under the Sagarmala programme. He said the impact of these efforts was now visible, with Kolkata Port setting new cargo-handling records last year. He added that the Extended Port Gate System being developed at Balagarh would open new opportunities for Hooghly and surrounding areas by easing congestion in Kolkata, enhancing logistics efficiency and increasing cargo movement through the Ganga waterway.

Spanning around 900 acres, the Balagarh project is being developed as a modern cargo-handling terminal with an envisaged capacity of about 2.7 million tonnes per annum. It includes two dedicated jetties for containerised and dry bulk cargo, and aims to divert heavy cargo traffic away from congested urban corridors. The Prime Minister said this would improve road safety, reduce pollution, enhance quality of life in Kolkata and transform Hooghly into a warehousing and trading hub, attracting hundreds of crores in investment, generating thousands of jobs, and creating new markets for farmers, small traders and transporters.

Stressing India’s push for multi-modal connectivity and green mobility, Modi said ports, waterways, highways and airports are being seamlessly interconnected to reduce logistics costs and travel time. He underlined the focus on nature-friendly transport solutions and said hybrid electric boats would strengthen river transport, reduce pollution and promote river-based tourism. In this context, he launched a state-of-the-art electric catamaran in Kolkata, one of six indigenously built vessels by Cochin Shipyard Ltd for inland water transport. The 50-passenger hybrid electric aluminium catamaran, equipped with advanced propulsion systems and lithium-titanate batteries, can operate in zero-emission electric mode as well as hybrid mode, supporting urban river mobility, eco-tourism and last-mile connectivity along the Hooghly.

The Prime Minister also inaugurated the Jayrambati–Barogopinathpur–Maynapur new rail line, a key segment of the Tarkeshwar–Bishnupur rail project, and flagged off a new train service on this route. He said the line would provide direct and affordable rail connectivity to residents of Bankura district, benefiting daily commuters, students and pilgrims alike.

Touching upon fisheries and seafood, Modi said India is rapidly advancing in production and exports, and expressed his vision for West Bengal to lead the country in this sector. He noted that farmers and fishermen are already benefiting from enhanced support for waterways and allied infrastructure, and asserted that the projects launched would significantly accelerate the state’s development journey.

Governor of West Bengal C V Ananda Bose, Union Ministers Sarbananda Sonowal, Shantanu Thakur and Sukanta Majumdar, along with other dignitaries, were present at the event.