Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated, laid the foundation stone of and flagged off multiple development projects worth more than Rs 8.30 billion at Singur in Hooghly district, West Bengal, giving a major boost to rail and inland waterways infrastructure in the state. The projects are aimed at strengthening multimodal connectivity, improving cargo movement and accelerating regional economic growth.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister said that after visiting Malda a day earlier, he was pleased to interact with people in Hooghly. He emphasised that the development of eastern India is essential for building a developed India, and said the Union Government is consistently working towards this objective. Modi noted that over the past two days, projects worth hundreds of crores linked to West Bengal’s development have been inaugurated and launched.

Highlighting recent rail initiatives, the Prime Minister said the country’s first Vande Bharat Sleeper Train was launched from West Bengal, along with nearly half a dozen new Amrit Bharat Express trains. He added that three more Amrit Bharat Express services were flagged off, including one that will strengthen connectivity between Varanasi and Bengal, as well as new links to Delhi and Tamil Nadu. He described the past 24 hours as unprecedented for rail connectivity in the state.

Modi also underlined West Bengal’s vast potential in inland waterways and port-led development. He said the Union Government is extending support for building necessary infrastructure and noted that projects related to ports and river waterways were inaugurated and foundation stones laid. These, he said, would serve as key pillars in transforming West Bengal into a hub for manufacturing, trade and logistics.

Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal said the dedication of infrastructure projects worth Rs 8.30 billion marked a major step in scaling up waterways- and rail-based transportation in West Bengal. He said the projects would enhance cargo movement, strengthen multimodal connectivity, ensure smoother passenger travel and accelerate economic activity and employment generation across the region.

Sonowal highlighted that projects worth Rs 5.52 billion were launched under the ports and inland waterways sector to promote sustainable river-based logistics and decongest traditional cargo routes. A key highlight was the inauguration of the Extended Port Gate System at Balagarh by the Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port Authority, located about 45 nautical miles upstream from Kolkata. The facility is expected to ease congestion at the Kolkata Dock System and enable more efficient cargo movement through inland waterways.