Prime Minister Narendra Modi is visiting poll-bound state Bihar and West Bengal on Friday, July 18. PM Modi will lay the foundation stone and inaugurate several projects related to oil and gas, power, road and railways worth over Rs 5000 crore at Bengal’s industrial hub Durgapur on Friday afternoon.
Announcing the same, PM wrote in an X post on Thursday, “Tomorrow, July 18, I am eagerly looking forward to being among the people of West Bengal. In Durgapur, at an event, I will lay the foundation stone for several projects in the fields of oil, gas, electricity, railways, and roads, and also inaugurate several projects with investments exceeding 5000 crore rupees.”
Notably, the PM’s visit to Bengal comes just three days ahead of Trinamool Congress’ (TMC) Martyrs’ Day rally (Shaheed Diwas) which is hosted on July 21 every year. The TMC has been organising the annual mega rally on July 21 since 2011 outside Victoria House in Esplanade in the heart of Kolkata to remember 13 people who were killed in police firing during a demonstration by the West Bengal Youth Congress, which was then led by Mamata Banerjee, on July 21, 1993. The incident is seen as a turning point in Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s political career.
PM to lay the foundation stone for BPCL distribution project in Bankura and Purulia
To boost the oil and gas infrastructure in the state, Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone for Bharat Petroleum Corp. Ltd (BPCL) City Gas Distribution project in Bankura and Purulia districts of West Bengal worth around Rs 1,950 crore. It will provide PNG connections to households, commercial establishments and industrial customers, and provide CNG at the retail outlets thereby creating employment opportunities in the region.
Prime Minister to inaugurate Natural Gas Pipeline
Prime Minister will also inaugurate a 132-km-long Natural Gas Pipeline from Durgapur to Kolkata, which has been laid as a part of the Jagdishpur-Haldia and Bokaro-Dhamra Pipeline also known as Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga (PMUG) Project.
The Durgapur to Kolkata section worth over Rs 1,190 crore is passing through the districts of Purba Bardhman, Hooghly and Nadia in West Bengal. The pipeline is expected to facilitate supply of natural gas to lakhs of households in the region.
PM to inaugurate a pollution control system at Raghunathpur Thermal Power Station
PM Modi will also inaugurate a Retrofitting Pollution Control System-Flue Gas Desulphurization (FGD) of Durgapur Steel Thermal Power Station and Raghunathpur Thermal Power Station of Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC), worth over Rs 1,457 crore. It will benefit the region by supporting cleaner energy production.
PM to inaugurate rail line and road over bridges (ROBs)
Boosting rail infrastructure in the region, Prime Minister Modi will inaugurate the doubling of Purulia – Kotshila Rail Line (36 KM) in Purulia worth over Rs 390 crore. It will boost rail connectivity between industries from Jamshedpur, Bokaro and Dhanbad with Ranchi and Kolkata and efficient movement of goods trains, reducing travel time and improving logistics for industries and businesses.
He will also inaugurate two road over bridges (ROBs) constructed under Setu Bharatam Programme, worth over Rs 380 crore, at Topsi and Pandabeshwar in Paschim Bardhaman. It will improve connectivity and also help in preventing accidents on Railway level crossing.