PM launches rail and road projects worth over Rs 3,250 cr in West Bengal
Malda (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday unveiled rail and road infrastructure projects worth Rs 3,250 crore, aimed at strengthening connectivity and accelerating development in West Bengal and the North East.
At a public function in Malda in north Bengal, the Prime Minister virtually flagged off four Amrit Bharat Express trains connecting New Jalpaiguri with Nagercoil and Tiruchirappalli, and Alipurduar with SMVT Bengaluru and Mumbai (Panvel).
Earlier, the Prime Minister flagged off the country’s most advanced and the first set of Vande Bharat sleeper trains between Howrah and Guwahati (Kamakhya) from Malda Town Railway Station.
The fully air-conditioned sleeper train is expected to cut travel time on the Howrah-Guwahati route by around 2.5 hours. Currently, it takes nearly 18 hours from Howrah to Guwahati by train.
Speaking at the inauguration function, Modi said the new projects, especially the new trains, will enable and empower the youth of the region.
“There was a time when we used to watch the developed foreign nations and dreamt of such modern trains in our country. Today that dream has come true,” the PM said.
“The new Vande Bharat sleeper train has connected the holy land of Maa Kali to that of Maa Kamakhya,” he added.
India has both modernised its transport facilities and made the country self-reliant, Modi said, adding that the country is currently making more railway coaches in India than in Europe or the US.
Speaking at the occasion, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that India would soon be exporting Vande Bharat trains.
“Keeping in mind the food tastes of the region, passengers of the Vande Bharat trains departing from Kolkata would be served Bengali cuisine and those from Guwahati would be offered Assamese food,” he announced.
A statement issued by the PMO stated that the new projects will enhance affordable and reliable long-distance rail connectivity.
“These services will support the mobility needs of common citizens, students, migrant workers and traders, while strengthening inter-state economic and social linkages,” it said.
At the function, Modi laid the foundation stone of four major railway projects in the state, including the 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 train maintenance facilities in Jalpaiguri district.
“These projects will strengthen passenger and freight operations, improve logistics efficiency in North Bengal, and generate employment opportunities in the region,” the statement said.
The PM also flagged off two new train services equipped with LHB coaches to facilitate connectivity of the region’s youth, students, and IT professionals to Bengaluru, a major IT hub of the country.
Modi laid the foundation stone for the rehabilitation and four-laning of the Dhupguri–Falakata section of National Highway-31D, a key project to improve regional road connectivity in North Bengal.
“These projects will play a vital role in building modern infrastructure creation and improved connectivity, strengthening the Eastern and North-Eastern regions as key growth engines of the nation,” the statement said.
On a two-day visit to eastern India, Modi is scheduled to criss-cross poll-bound Bengal and Assam, blending high-voltage political messaging with a clutch of infrastructure launches as the countdown to the 2026 assembly elections enters its decisive phase.
He is scheduled to return to the state on Sunday after holding a political rally in Malda on Saturday afternoon and then moving to Guwahati for his overnight stay there and spearheading a host of scheduled events the following morning.
On Sunday, the PM will address a keenly monitored political meeting from Singur in Hooghly district, the epicentre of the anti-land acquisition movement that propelled Mamata Banerjee to power in 2011 and reshaped the state’s political landscape.
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BJP insulting Sanatan traditions: Akhilesh on 'restrictions' for Avimukteshwaranand's Lucknow event
Lucknow (PTI): Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday slammed the Uttar Pradesh government over the conditions imposed for a programme led by Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati in the state capital, accusing it of insulting Sanatan traditions.
The seer is scheduled to address a gathering in Lucknow later on Wednesday as part of his campaign seeking the status of "rashtra mata" (national mother) for the cow and a complete ban on cow slaughter across the country.
Local authorities have granted permission for the event titled 'Gau Pratishtha Dhwaj Sthapana, Dharm Yudh Shankhnaad Sabha' with approximately 26 conditions.
Reacting to the conditions, Yadav took to social media and mocked the restrictions, saying the government might as well specify "how many centimetres one can open their eyes and mouth."
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According to the organisers, the guidelines include restrictions on inflammatory speeches against any religion, caste, community or language, a ban on abusive remarks against political or religious figures, and directions that minors should not be asked to raise controversial slogans.
Other conditions require that no prohibited items be brought to the venue, except for traditional flags, private security arrangements are made, and that fire safety, traffic regulations, noise pollution norms, and environmental guidelines are observed. Organisers have also been asked to ensure that traffic is not disrupted and to cover the costs of police deployment and venue arrangements.
"Someone does not like something and therefore piles up conditions," Akhilesh said in the post, accusing the BJP government of insulting Sanatan traditions and imposing "illogical restrictions".
The former chief minister also questioned the reference to COVID-related protocols in the guidelines, asking, "Is COVID-19 still around? If so, the government should indicate in which of its own meetings or BJP events these rules were last adhered to," adding that such irrational restrictions indicate a weak government.
Responding to the remarks ahead of the programme, Avimukteshwaranand said one should not focus on the language used by political leaders but rather on the practicality of the conditions.
Taking a swipe at some of the conditions, the seer said that certain guidelines appeared 'unrealistic'.
"One could ask why people here are not following the COVID rules? Everyone should stand apart and speak from a distance. But since COVID is not present now, such rules are not required," he said.
"If COVID guidelines must be followed, why are they not being enforced at railway stations, airports, or in public spaces? Even the administration is not wearing masks. It seems they only want to silence us," and emphasised that guidelines should be practical to follow.
The seer reached Lucknow on Tuesday evening as part of his ongoing march for cow protection that began in Varanasi on March 6 and passed through several districts before arriving in the state capital.
Soon after his arrival, Samajwadi Party MLA Ravidas Mehrotra met him and expressed support for his campaign.
Speaking to PTI Videos after the meeting, Mehrotra said the seer had announced a "dharma yudh" (religious struggle) and that his party stood with him in what he called a fight for truth and justice.
"It is a matter of good fortune that the revered Shankaracharya has come to Lucknow and will stay here tonight. He represents Lord Shiva and is a centre of faith for crores of Hindus," he said.
Mehrotra said his party supported the demand to grant the cow the status of "rashtra mata", arguing that such recognition would ensure that cow slaughter stops.
"The demand is for an immediate stop to cow slaughter. We are prepared to make any sacrifices in this struggle," he said.
Additionally, he stated that if their demands are not met, the issue would be addressed politically in the future.
"If the government changes in 2027 under Akhilesh Yadav's leadership, the first cabinet meeting will decide to declare the cow as 'rashtra mata,' " he added.
