Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday inaugurated, laid foundation stones and flagged off a series of development projects worth over ₹830 crore at Singur in Hooghly district, marking a major push to strengthen rail and inland waterway infrastructure in West Bengal.
Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister said the development of eastern India is crucial for achieving the vision of a developed India, and emphasised that the Union Government is working continuously toward this goal. He noted that over the last two days, projects worth hundreds of crores linked to West Bengal’s development have been inaugurated or launched.
Highlighting rail connectivity, PM Modi said that West Bengal has witnessed unprecedented progress in the past 24 hours. He referred to the launch of the country’s first Vande Bharat Sleeper Train from the state, the introduction of nearly half a dozen Amrit Bharat Express trains earlier, and the flagging off of three more Amrit Bharat Express services on Thursday. These include trains connecting Santragachi–Tambaram, Howrah–Anand Vihar Terminal and Sealdah–Banaras, strengthening economic, cultural and religious corridors across India.
A significant portion of the investment — ₹552 crore — was dedicated to ports and inland waterways, underscoring the government’s focus on river-based logistics and sustainable transport. A key highlight was the inauguration of the Extended Port Gate System at Balagarh by the Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port Authority. Located around 45 nautical miles upstream from Kolkata, the facility is designed to decongest the Kolkata Dock System and facilitate efficient cargo movement through National Waterway-1.
The Balagarh terminal features two berths capable of handling containerised and coal cargo, with a projected capacity of 2.7 million tonnes per annum, supported by road and rail connectivity, a new road overbridge and advanced dredging facilities to ensure year-round navigation.
As part of the green transport initiative, the Prime Minister also launched a 50-passenger hybrid electric aluminium catamaran in Kolkata. Built at a cost of ₹12 crore, the vessel uses advanced lithium-titanate battery technology, promoting energy-efficient and environmentally friendly inland water transport.
Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal said the projects mark a major step in scaling up waterways and rail-based transportation in the state, enhancing multimodal connectivity, cargo movement and employment generation. He added that under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, inland waterways have emerged as a vital pillar of India’s multimodal logistics network, helping reduce congestion and logistics costs.
On the rail front, projects worth ₹280 crore were inaugurated, including the commissioning of the 15-km Jayrambati–Barogopinathpur–Maynapur section of the Tarakeswar–Bishnupur rail project. A new passenger train between Jayrambati and Maynapur was also flagged off, expected to benefit daily commuters and students in Bankura district.
The virtual inauguration from Singur was attended by West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose, Union Ministers Sarbananda Sonowal, Shantanu Thakur and Sukanta Majumdar, among other dignitaries.
Together, the projects reflect the Centre’s integrated approach to infrastructure development, combining modern rail systems with sustainable inland water transport, and reinforcing West Bengal’s role as a key gateway for trade and connectivity between mainland India and the North-East.
