Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday inaugurated, laid the foundation stone for, and flagged off multiple development projects worth over Rs 830 crore at a government programme in Singur, Hooghly, asserting that the development of eastern India is central to the vision of a Viksit Bharat.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister said he had been in Malda the previous day and had now reached Hooghly, describing the two-day programme as a concrete step toward accelerating development in eastern India.

“Today West Bengal had received nearly half a dozen Amrit Bharat Express trains in the last 24 hours. Perhaps in the 100 years the state has not received so many trains in just 24 hours,” the Prime Minister said.

“These are the pillars on which West Bengal can emerge as a manufacturing and logistics hub, generating large-scale employment,” he said, underlining the importance of infrastructure-led growth.

A key highlight of the programme was the foundation stone laying of the Extended Port Gate System at Balagarh.

The project includes the development of an Inland Water Transport (IWT) terminal and a Road Over Bridge. Spread over around 900 acres, Balagarh is being developed as a modern cargo handling terminal with an envisaged capacity of about 2.7 million tonnes per annum.

It will have two dedicated cargo handling jetties, one for containerised cargo and another for dry bulk cargo.

Efforts are being taken to enhance the capacity of the Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Port and there the Balagarh extended port gate system would open new avenues for trade while reducing pressure on surface transport,” the Prime Minister said.

Officials said the project is aimed at improving cargo evacuation efficiency by diverting heavy cargo traffic away from congested urban corridors, which is expected to enhance road safety and reduce congestion and pollution in Kolkata.

Emphasising multimodal transport and green mobility, Modi said these initiatives would reduce transportation time and dependence on traditional modes of transport.

The Balagarh project is expected to strengthen multimodal connectivity, improve logistics efficiency and provide cost-effective market access to regional industries, MSMEs and agricultural producers. Substantial direct and indirect employment generation is also expected in logistics, terminal operations and allied sectors.

The Prime Minister also launched a state-of-the-art electric catamaran in Kolkata.

The vessel is one of six indigenously built electric catamarans for inland water transport by Cochin Shipyard Ltd. The 50-passenger hybrid electric aluminium catamaran is equipped with advanced electric propulsion systems and lithium-titanate battery technology, capable of operating in fully electric, zero-emission mode as well as in hybrid mode.

It is expected to support urban river mobility, eco-tourism and last-mile passenger connectivity along the Hooghly River.

In the rail sector, Modi inaugurated the Jayrambati–Barogopinathpur–Maynapur new rail line, a key segment of the Tarkeshwar–Bishnupur rail line project, and flagged off a new train service between Maynapur and Jayrambati with a halt at Barogopinathpur.

“The line is expected to improve rail connectivity in Bankura district for commuters, students and pilgrims,” the Prime Minister said.

Three Amrit Bharat Express trains,Kolkata (Howrah)–Anand Vihar Terminal, Kolkata (Sealdah)–Banaras and Kolkata (Santragachi)–Tambaram, were also flagged off, strengthening long-distance rail connectivity from the state.

Referring to Bengal’s economic potential, the Prime Minister said the state should take the lead in agriculture and fisheries, with improved infrastructure and connectivity supporting farmers and allied sectors.

On Saturday, the Prime Minister had addressed a rally in Malda, where he announced development projects worth Rs 3,250 crore. During the Malda programme, he also flagged off the first Vande Bharat Sleeper Express connecting Howrah and Kamakhya, marking a significant addition to long-distance premium rail services in the eastern region.