PM Modi Inaugurates ₹830 Cr Waterways & Rail Projects in WB, Launches Hybrid Electric Vessel

In a significant push to multimodal connectivity and sustainable transport in Eastern India, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi dedicated to the nation and laid the foundation stone for a series of infrastructure projects worth over ₹830 crore in West Bengal today.

The event, held at Singur in Hooghly district, focused on enhancing riverine logistics and rail connectivity. The projects are strategically aimed at positioning West Bengal as a major hub for manufacturing, trade, and logistics.

Major Highlights of the Inauguration:

1. Ports & Inland Waterways Projects (₹552 Crore):

Balagarh Extended Port Gate System: Inaugurated a modern barge terminal with two berths at Balagarh, developed by the Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port Authority. Located 45 nautical miles from Kolkata, this facility is designed to decongest the Kolkata Dock System and handle 2.7 million tonnes per annum of containerised and coal cargo via National Waterway-1.
Hybrid Electric Catamaran: Flagged off a 50-passenger hybrid electric aluminium catamaran, built at a cost of ₹12 crore. Powered by lithium-titanate battery technology, this green vessel will operate on Kolkata's inland waterways, marking a shift towards clean urban water transport.

2. Railways Projects (₹280 Crore):

Inaugurated the 15-km Jayrambati–Barogopinathpur–Maynapur rail section, a part of the broader Tarakeswar–Bishnupur project expected to spur development in Bankura district.
Flagged off a new passenger train service between Jayrambati and Maynapur.
Launched three new Amrit Bharat Express services:
- Santragachi (WB) to Tambaram (TN)
- Howrah (WB) to Anand Vihar Terminal (Delhi)
- Sealdah (WB) to Banaras (UP)

Leadership Perspectives:

Speaking on the occasion, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, stated, “Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India’s inland waterways have been transformed into a modern, efficient, and economical mode of transportation. Today, they are a vital pillar of our multimodal logistics network, reducing congestion and driving sustainable growth.”

He added that West Bengal is re-emerging as a growth engine for Eastern India and a vital link to the Northeast.

Prime Minister Modi, addressing the gathering, emphasised that the development of Eastern India is essential for a developed India. He highlighted that the projects launched over the last two days in Malda and Hooghly strengthen this resolve and will serve as pillars for Bengal's future as a trade and logistics hub.

The event was attended by West Bengal Governor Shri C V Ananda Bose, Union Ministers Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, Shri Shantanu Thakur, Shri Sukanta Majumdar, and other dignitaries.