Kolkata: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be on a two-day visit to West Bengal and Assam on January 17 and 18, during which he will unveil a series of major rail, road, and infrastructure projects worth thousands of crores, including the launch of India’s first Vande Bharat Sleeper Train.
On Saturday, the Prime Minister will arrive at Malda Town Railway Station in West Bengal, where he will flag off the country’s first Vande Bharat Sleeper service connecting Howrah (Kolkata) with Kamakhya (Guwahati). Two sleeper versions of the Vande Bharat train have been manufactured, with services planned on the Howrah–Guwahati and Guwahati–Howrah routes.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that the Prime Minister’s visit would mark a significant boost to rail connectivity in eastern and northeastern India, with West Bengal alone set to receive more than a dozen new train services.
₹3,250 Crore Infrastructure Push in Malda
According to an official statement, PM Modi will reach Malda at around 12:45 pm and later address a public function. During the event, he will lay the foundation stone and dedicate to the nation rail and road projects worth over ₹3,250 crore.
On Sunday afternoon, the Prime Minister will visit Singur in Hooghly district, where he will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for development projects worth approximately ₹830 crore.
Four New Amrit Bharat Express Trains
Via video conferencing, PM Modi will flag off four new Amrit Bharat Express trains, including:
- New Jalpaiguri–Nagercoil
- New Jalpaiguri–Tiruchirappalli
- Alipurduar–SMVT Bengaluru
- Alipurduar–Mumbai (Panvel)
These services are expected to enhance affordable, long-distance rail connectivity for passengers, migrant workers, students, and traders, while strengthening inter-state economic ties.
New LHB Coaches and Highway Projects
The Prime Minister will also flag off two LHB-coach-equipped express trains—Radhikapur–SMVT Bengaluru Express and Balurghat–SMVT Bengaluru Express—offering safer and more comfortable travel options to major IT and employment hubs.
Additionally, he will lay the foundation stone for the four-laning of the Dhupguri–Falakata stretch of National Highway-31D, a key road project aimed at improving passenger and freight movement across North Bengal.
Major Railway Projects in Bengal
PM Modi will lay the foundation stone for four key railway projects in West Bengal, including:
- A new rail line between Balurghat and Hili
- Next-generation freight maintenance facilities at New Jalpaiguri
- Upgradation of the Siliguri loco shed
- Modernisation of Vande Bharat train maintenance facilities in Jalpaiguri district
He will also dedicate to the nation the electrification of the New Cooch Behar–Bamanhat and New Cooch Behar–Boxirhat rail sections, enabling faster, cleaner, and more energy-efficient train operations.
Cultural Event and Assam Projects
On Saturday evening, the Prime Minister will attend the grand ‘Bagurumba Dwohu 2026’ cultural programme at Sarusaijai Stadium in Guwahati, celebrating the heritage of the Bodo community. Over 10,000 artists from 23 districts and 81 Assembly constituencies will perform the traditional Bagurumba dance.
On Sunday, PM Modi will perform the bhumi pujan for the ₹6,950-crore Kaziranga Elevated Corridor Project in Assam’s Nagaon district. The 86-km eco-friendly highway project includes a 35-km elevated wildlife corridor passing through Kaziranga National Park, aimed at protecting biodiversity while improving regional connectivity.
The project also includes bypasses at Jakhalabandha and Bokakhat, expansion of NH-715 to four lanes, reduced travel time, enhanced road safety, and mitigation of human–wildlife conflict.
The Prime Minister will also flag off two more Amrit Bharat Express trains—Guwahati–Rohtak and Dibrugarh–Lucknow—further strengthening rail links between the Northeast and northern India.
With major assembly elections due later this year in both West Bengal and Assam, the visit assumes added political significance, alongside its focus on infrastructure-driven development.
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