Guwahati: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit West Bengal on Friday.
He will launch the Joka-Taratala segment of the Purple Line of the Kolkata Metro during his visit, as well as flag off the Vande Bharat Express from Howrah to New Jalpaiguri at the Howrah Railway Station.
The 6.5 km long Joka-Taratala line of the Kolkata metro, which contains six stations including Joka, Thakurpukur, Sakher Bazar, Behala Chowrasta, Behala Bazar, and Taratala, was built at a cost of more than Rs 2475 crore, according to an official statement from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). The launch of this project will be hugely beneficial for travellers in southern areas of Kolkata, such as Sarsuna, Dakghar, Muchipara, and South 24 Parganas.
Along with laying the cornerstone for the renovation of New Jalpaiguri Railway Station, PM Modi will also lay the cornerstone for a number of railroad projects.
“During the programme, Prime Minister will also dedicate four railway projects to the Nation. These 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. Prime Minister 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,” it added.
Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee National Institute of Water and Sanitation (DSPM – NIWAS) which was built at Joka, Diamond Harbour Road, Kolkata, at an estimated cost of about Rs. 100 Crore, will also be dedicated during the Prime Minister’s visit. The Institute will act as the nation’s leading authority on water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), acting as a knowledge hub for the federal, state, and local governments.
The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) was created at a cost of more than Rs 990 crore and the statement added that PM Modi would also lay the cornerstone and dedicate seven sewage infrastructure projects (20 Sewage Treatment Plants and a 612 km network). The towns of Nabadwip, Kacharapra, Halishar, Budge-Budge, Barrackpore, Chandan Nagar, Bansberia, Uttrapara Kotrung, Baidyabati, Bhadreshwar, Naihati, Garulia, Titagarh and Panihati would gain from these initiatives. These initiatives will increase West Bengal’s state-wide sewage treatment capacity by more than 200 MLD.
“Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone for 5 sewerage infrastructure projects (8 Sewage Treatment Plants and 80 Km Network) to be developed under National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) at an estimated cost of Rs 1585 crore. These projects will add 190 MLD new STP capacity in West Bengal. These projects will benefit areas of North Barrackpore, Hooghly-Chinsura, Kolkata KMC area- Garden Reach and Adi Ganga (Tolly Nala) and Mahestala town,” it added.
Later on in the day, the Prime Minister will preside over the second National Ganga Council meeting which will be attended by the Chief Ministers of West Bengal, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and the Union Minister for Jal Shakti. The National Ganga Council has been entrusted with general management of the Ganga River and its tributaries’ revitalization and prevention of pollution.