Prime Minister Narendra Modi commenced his 10-day visit to 12 States and Union territories by inaugurating and laying the foundation stone for numerous projects valued at ₹15,400 crore in Kolkata on Wednesday. This marks his second visit to West Bengal within a span of five days.
Key Projects Inaugurated by PM Modi in Kolkata
East-West Metro Corridor: PM Modi inaugurated the Howrah Maidan-Esplanade section of Kolkata Metro’s East-West corridor, marking Bharat’s maiden foray into underwater Metro services. This 4.8-km stretch, constructed at a cost of ₹4,965 crore, includes the deepest Metro station in Bharat at Howrah, situated 30 metres below ground level. The corridor will facilitate connectivity to vital areas such as the IT hub Salt Lake Sector V.
Enhanced Train Services: The PM flagged off additional train services aimed at improving urban mobility. These include the Kavi Subhash-Hemanta Mukhopadhyay and Taratala-Majerhat Metro sections.
Additionally, PM Modi dedicated several other projects to the nation during his visit to Kolkata, including the Pune Metro’s Ruby Hall Clinic to Ramwadi stretch, Kochi Metro Rail Phase I Extension project (Phase IB), Agra Metro’s Taj East Gate to Mankameshwar stretch, and the Duhai-Modinagar (North) section of the Delhi-Meerut RRTS Corridor.
Later in the day, PM Modi is scheduled to address a public rally in Barasat, located in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district, where Sandeshkhali is situated.
This visit follows PM Modi’s recent trip to West Bengal, during which he addressed rallies in Hooghly’s Arambagh and Nadia’s Krishnanagar. He criticised the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC Government for alleged atrocities against women in Sandeshkhali, urging the public to ensure the TMC’s defeat in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. Additionally, PM Modi held a courtesy meeting with Mamata Banerjee at Raj Bhavan in Kolkata, adhering to protocol.
