Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday laid the foundation stone and inaugurated development projects worth more than ₹5,200 crore in Kolkata, West Bengal.
Addressing a public gathering, the Prime Minister highlighted that Kolkata reflects both India’s glorious history and its aspirations for the future. “As India moves towards becoming the world’s third-largest economy, cities like Dum Dum and Kolkata will play a pivotal role in this journey,” he said.
The Prime Minister inaugurated multiple sections of the Kolkata Metro, including the 13.61 km-long new lines and a newly constructed subway at Howrah Metro Station. These include the Noapara–Jai Hind Bimanbandar service, the Sealdah–Esplanade service, and the Beleghata–Hemanta Mukhopadhyay section.
Sharing his metro journey experience from Noapara to Jai Hind Airport, PM Modi said commuters expressed happiness at the modernization of the city’s public transport. He noted that these projects will significantly reduce travel time—Sealdah to Esplanade, for instance, will now take just 11 minutes instead of 40 minutes. The metro expansion will also enhance connectivity with Kolkata Airport and the IT hub.
The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone for the six-lane elevated Kona Expressway, a 7.2 km project worth over ₹1,200 crore. Once completed, it will improve port connectivity and reduce travel time, providing a major boost to trade, commerce, and tourism.
Emphasizing the government’s vision for modern infrastructure, PM Modi said: “21st-century India requires a 21st-century transport system. Therefore, across the country, modern facilities—railways, roads, metros, airports—are being developed and interconnected to ensure seamless mobility.”
The Prime Minister underlined that India today has over 1,000 km of metro networks compared to just 250 km before 2014, making it the world’s third-largest metro system. He added that Kolkata itself has seen continuous expansion, with about 14 km of new lines and seven new stations being added.
On railway development, PM Modi announced that West Bengal has achieved 100% electrification and confirmed that a MEMU train between Purulia and Howrah—long demanded by people—has been launched. He said nine Vande Bharat trains and two Amrit Bharat trains are also operating in the state.
Reiterating the Centre’s commitment to West Bengal’s growth, PM Modi said infrastructure expansion is strengthening the foundation for a prosperous future for Kolkata and the state.