PM Modi inaugurates, lays foundation stone for ₹830-crore development projects in Singur, West Bengal
Kolkata: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated, laid the foundation stone and flagged off various development projects worth more than 830 crore rupees at Hooghly district’s Singur in West Bengal today. The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of the Extended Port Gate System at Balagarh, including an Inland Water Transport IWT terminal and a Road Over Bridge. Addressing the event, the Prime Minister said that all central projects will accelerate the development of West Bengal. He said the central government is working to meet the goal of a developed eastern India.
Spanning an area of approximately 900 acres, Balagarh is being developed as a modern cargo handling terminal with an envisaged capacity of about 2.7 million tonnes per annum MTPA. The project includes the construction of two dedicated cargo handling jetties, one for containerised cargo and one for dry bulk cargo.
The Balagarh project aims to significantly improve cargo evacuation efficiency by diverting heavy cargo movement away from congested urban corridors. This will enhance road safety, reduce vehicular congestion and pollution in Kolkata city, and contribute to an improved quality of life for residents. Improved multimodal connectivity and logistics efficiency will also provide cost-effective market access to regional industries, MSMEs, and agricultural producers. The project is expected to generate substantial direct and indirect employment, benefiting local communities through job creation in logistics, terminal operations, transport services, maintenance, and allied activities.
The Prime Minister said that during the last eleven years, the Centre has been developing the capacity of the Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Port in Kolkata and has also contributed towards logistics development. All these projects will create employment. Multimodal connectivity is given special importance by the government. Nature-friendly transport and green mobility are being given special focus. The Centre is supporting West Bengal to develop water transportation.
The Prime Minister also launched a state-of-the-art Electric Catamaran in Kolkata. This is one of the 6 Electric Catamarans indigenously built for inland water transport by Cochin Shipyard Ltd. The 50-passenger hybrid electric aluminium catamaran, equipped with advanced electric propulsion systems and lithium-titanate battery technology, is capable of operating in fully electric zero-emission mode as well as in hybrid mode for extended endurance. The vessel will support urban river mobility, eco-tourism and last-mile passenger connectivity along the Hooghly River.
The Prime Minister also inaugurated the Jayrambati-Barogopinathpur-Maynapur new rail line. This line is an important part of the Tarkeshwar-Bishnupur new rail line project. Along with the new rail line, a new train service between Maynapur and Jayrambati, with a halt at Barogopinathpur, will also be flagged off. It will provide direct rail connectivity to the residents of Bankura district, making travel more affordable and convenient for daily commuters, students and pilgrims.
Prime Minister flagged off three Amrit Bharat Express trains – Howrah – Anand Vihar Terminal Amrit Bharat Express; Sealdah – Banaras Amrit Bharat Express; Santragachi- Tambaram Amrit Bharat Express, and one passenger express.
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