PM Modi to Visit West Bengal on January 17–18, flag off Vande Bharat Sleeper train

Kolkata/Malda/Hooghly-    Prime Minister Narendra Modi will undertake a two-day visit to West Bengal from January 17 to 18, during which he is scheduled to inaugurate, lay foundation stones, and flag off a series of rail, road, and inland water transport projects aimed at strengthening regional and national connectivity, according to a Press Information Bureau (PIB) release.

On January 17, the Prime Minister will visit Malda, where he will flag off India’s first Vande Bharat Sleeper Train between Howrah and Guwahati (Kamakhya) from Malda Town Railway Station. The fully air-conditioned sleeper train has been designed to offer a modern, airline-like travel experience at affordable fares for long-distance passengers. Railway officials said the new service is expected to reduce travel time on the Howrah–Guwahati route by approximately 2.5 hours, providing a boost to tourism and religious travel.

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Later in the day, the Prime Minister will dedicate to the nation and lay the foundation stone of multiple rail and road infrastructure projects worth over ₹3,250 crore at a public function in Malda. These include four major railway projects in West Bengal: a new rail line between Balurghat and Hili, next-generation freight maintenance facilities at New Jalpaiguri, upgradation of the Siliguri Loco Shed, and modernisation of Vande Bharat maintenance facilities in Jalpaiguri district.

He will also dedicate the electrification of rail lines between New Coochbehar–Bamanhat and New Coochbehar–Boxirhat, enabling cleaner and more energy-efficient train operations. In addition, the Prime Minister will virtually flag off four new Amrit Bharat Express trains connecting New Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar with destinations including Nagercoil, Tiruchirappalli, Bengaluru, and Mumbai (Panvel). Two new LHB-coach train services — Radhikapur–SMVT Bengaluru Express and Balurghat–SMVT Bengaluru Express — will also be flagged off.

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The Prime Minister will further lay the foundation stone for the rehabilitation and four-laning of the Dhupguri–Falakata section of National Highway-31D, a key road project aimed at improving passenger and freight movement in North Bengal.

On January 18, the Prime Minister will travel to Singur in Hooghly district, where he will inaugurate, lay foundation stones, and flag off development projects worth over ₹830 crore. A key project includes the foundation stone laying of the Extended Port Gate System at Balagarh, comprising an Inland Water Transport terminal and a road overbridge. Spread over approximately 900 acres, the Balagarh terminal is planned as a modern cargo-handling hub with a capacity of around 2.7 million tonnes per annum.

Officials said the Balagarh project is expected to reduce congestion in Kolkata by diverting heavy cargo movement, improve road safety, and enhance logistics efficiency for regional industries, MSMEs, and agricultural producers, while generating employment in logistics and allied sectors.

During the Hooghly programme, the Prime Minister will also launch a state-of-the-art electric catamaran for inland water transport in Kolkata, built by Cochin Shipyard Ltd. The hybrid electric vessel is designed for zero-emission operation and is expected to support urban river mobility and eco-tourism along the Hooghly River.

In addition, the Prime Minister will inaugurate the Jayrambati–Barogopinathpur–Maynapur new rail line and flag off a new train service on the route. He will also flag off three Amrit Bharat Express trains connecting Kolkata with Anand Vihar Terminal, Banaras, and Tambaram.

The visit underscores a focus on large-scale infrastructure creation, multimodal connectivity, and economic integration, positioning eastern and northeastern India as key growth corridors.