Kolkata, Jan 17 (UNI) With the West Bengal Assembly elections approaching, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit the state for a mix of official and political programmes over the weekend, covering Malda on Saturday, January 17, and Singur in Hooghly district on Sunday, January 18.
According to the schedule, the Prime Minister is expected to reach Malda Town railway station at around 12:45 pm on Saturday. He will inaugurate the Howrah–Kamakhya Vande Bharat Sleeper Express and, simultaneously, virtually flag off the Guwahati (Kamakhya)–Howrah Vande Bharat Sleeper train.
This will mark the launch of the first Vande Bharat sleeper service between Howrah and Guwahati.
Around 1:45 pm, Modi will address a public meeting at a ground near the Sahapur Malda bypass, where he will lay the foundation stones for multiple rail and road infrastructure projects worth over Rs 3,250 crore.
The projects include a new railway line between Balurghat and Hili, a freight train maintenance facility at New Jalpaiguri, and the upgradation of the loco shed at Siliguri.
Modernisation of Vande Bharat Express maintenance facilities in Jalpaiguri district and electrification of the New Cooch Behar–Bamanhat and New Cooch Behar–Boxirhat railway lines are also part of the package.
The Prime Minister is also scheduled to virtually inaugurate four new Amrit Bharat Express trains during the programme.
In addition, Modi will lay the foundation stone for renovation and four-laning of portions of National Highway 31D between Dhupguri and Falakata, aimed at easing the movement of passenger and freight vehicles.
An administrative review meeting will be followed by a political rally in Malda.
The Prime Minister shared details of his visit on his X handle, writing: “On January 17, I will be in West Bengal. In Malda, development projects worth more than ₹3,250 crore will be inaugurated. Additionally, the first Vande Bharat Sleeper train between Howrah and Guwahati will be flagged off. I am extremely happy about this.”
Modi is scheduled to reach Singur at around 3 pm On Sunday, January 18, where he will lay the foundation stones for development projects worth nearly Rs 830 crore.
These include the Balagarh extended port gate system, a waterways transport terminal, and a rail overbridge. He will also inaugurate a state-of-the-art electric catamaran in Kolkata.
The Prime Minister will further inaugurate the Joyrambati–Baragopinathpur–Moynapur new railway line, a crucial segment of the Tarakeswar–Bishnupur rail project.
The new link is expected to significantly improve connectivity between Bankura and Hooghly districts and fulfil a long-standing demand of local residents. A public meeting is also planned in Singur.
The West Bengal BJP has already begun preparations for Modi’s public meetings in Malda and Singur. Sources in the party said the visit is significant not only from an administrative standpoint but also politically.
The visit follows Modi’s assurance during a public meeting in Taherpur, Nadia district, on December 20 last year.
On that occasion, dense fog prevented his helicopter from landing, forcing him to address the gathering via audio bridge call from Kolkata airport.
During that speech, he had promised to return to West Bengal soon—a promise now being fulfilled with this two-day visit.
