New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit West Bengal on December 30 where he will flag off Vande Bharat Express connecting Howrah to New Jalpaiguri from Howrah Railway Station. He will also inaugurate the Joka-Taratala stretch of the Purple Line of Kolkata Metro, said the Prime Minister’s Office in a press release. 


He will also lay the foundation stone of multiple Railway projects along with laying the foundation stone of the redevelopment of New Jalpaiguri Railway station. The PM will also inaugurate Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee National Institute of Water and Sanitation. 


PM Modi In Howrah 


At around 11 am, the Prime Minister will reach the Howrah Railway station where he will flag off the Vande Bharat Express. 


The ultra-modern Semi High Speed Train is equipped with state-of-the-art passenger amenities.  The train will stop at Malda Town, Barsoi and Kishanganj stations enroute on both the directions, read the official statement.


Later the PM will inaugurate the Joka-Taratala Stretch of Joka-Esplanade Metro Project (Purple Line). The 6.5-Km stretch having 6 stations namely Joka, Thakurpukur, Sakher Bazar, Behala Chowrasta, Behala Bazar and Taratala has been constructed at a cost of more than Rs 2475 Crore. 


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“Passengers of southern parts of the Kolkata City like Sarsuna, Dakghar, Muchipara and South 24 Parganas will be immensely benefited by inauguration of this project,” it said. 


During the event, the PM will also dedicate four railway projects to the Nation which include: Boinchi - Shaktigarh 3rd Line, developed at a cost of Rs 405 crore; Dankuni - Chandanpur 4th Line Project, developed at a cost of Rs 565 crore; Nimtita - New Farakka Double Line, developed at a cost of of Rs 254 crore; and Ambari Falakata - New Maynaguri - Gumanihat Doubling Project, developed at a cost of a cost of more than Rs 1080 crore.


He will also lay the foundation stone for redevelopment of New Jalpaiguri Railway Station,  to be developed at a cost of more than Rs 335 crore.


PM Modi In Kolkata 


At around 12 noon, the PM will reach INS Netaji Subhas where he will pay floral tribute at the statue of Netaji Subhas and inaugurate Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee – National Institute of Water and Sanitation (DSPM – NIWAS).


He will also lay the foundation stone and dedicate to the nation multiple sewerage infrastructure projects for West Bengal under National Mission for Clean Ganga. 


At around 12:25 PM, the Prime Minister will chair the second meeting of the National Ganga Council which will be attended by Union Minister for Jal Shakti, other Union Ministers who are members of the council and Chief Ministers of Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal.