Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for multiple infrastructure projects in Kolkata, including the extension of the Metro Rail network and the six-lane elevated Kona Expressway.
Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister said he had just traveled on the Kolkata Metro from Noapara to Jai Hind Biman Bandar and interacted with commuters. “Everyone is happy that Kolkata’s public transport is really becoming modern now,” he remarked, extending congratulations to the people of West Bengal for projects worth thousands of crores.
The Prime Minister underlined Kolkata’s dual role as a symbol of history and a driver of India’s future. “Our cities like Kolkata are a rich identity of both India’s history and our future. Today, when India is moving towards becoming the third largest economy of the world, the role of these cities like Dum Dum, Kolkata is very big,” he said.
He highlighted that the inauguration of metro lines and the foundation stone for the highway reflect the broader transformation of Indian cities. “Today, efforts are being made for green mobility in Indian cities, the number of electric charging points and electric buses is being continuously increased, efforts are being made to convert waste to wealth, to generate electricity from the waste generated from the city, metro facilities are increasing, the metro network is expanding,” he said.
Underscoring India’s growth in metro infrastructure, Modi stated: “Today everyone is proud to hear that the world’s third largest metro network is now in India. Before 2014, the metro route in the country was only 250 kilometers. Today the metro route in the country has become more than a thousand kilometers long.”
He said that in Kolkata itself, 14 kilometers of new metro lines and seven new stations are being added to the network, boosting ease of travel and daily life.
Seamless Travel and Multimodal Connectivity
The Prime Minister stressed the importance of integrated transport systems. “21st century India also needs a 21st century transport system. That is why today we are developing modern transport facilities in the country, from rail to road, from metro to airport, and are also connecting them with each other,” he said.
Referring to Kolkata’s multi-modal connectivity, Modi said that linking busy railway stations like Howrah and Sealdah with the metro will cut travel time drastically. “The travel between the stations which earlier took one and a half hour, will now take just a few minutes through the metro,” he noted. He also mentioned the Howrah Station subway and the metro link to Kolkata Airport as measures that will improve passenger convenience.
Railways and Road Projects
Modi said West Bengal is among the states with 100% railway electrification. He added that long-standing public demand for a MEMU train between Purulia and Howrah had been fulfilled. The state currently operates nine Vande Bharat trains and two Amrit Bharat trains.
He also noted the central government’s push for highways in the state over the past 11 years. “When the six-lane Kona Expressway is completed, it will also improve the connectivity of the port. This connectivity will strengthen the foundation for a better future for Kolkata and West Bengal,” he said.
Concluding his address, the Prime Minister said he would be interacting with people further at a public meeting later in the evening to discuss the state’s development agenda.