Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in West Bengal today, August 22, 2025, to inaugurate and lay the foundation for multiple development projects worth over ₹5,200 crore. This visit, his third in recent months, signals a strong push for infrastructure development in the state ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.
The projects include significant upgrades to Kolkata's metro network and a new expressway to improve connectivity. Specifically, PM Modi will inaugurate a 13.61 km-long newly constructed metro network, launching metro services on the Noapara–Jai Hind Bimanbandar, Sealdah–Esplanade, and Beleghata–Hemanta Mukhopadhyay routes. He will also inaugurate a new subway at the Howrah Metro Station. To mark the occasion, the Prime Minister will take a metro ride from Jessore Road Metro Station to Jai Hind Bimanbandar and back. The new metro lines are expected to ease congestion, cut travel time, and benefit hundreds of thousands of daily commuters by linking some of the city's most bustling areas. The Sealdah–Esplanade stretch, for instance, is projected to see travel times drop from 40 minutes to just 11 minutes. The Beleghata–Hemanta Mukhopadhyay section will provide a key link to the city's IT hub.
In addition to the metro projects, the Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone for the 7.2 km six-lane elevated Kona Expressway, valued at over ₹1,200 crore. This project aims to improve connectivity between Howrah, its surrounding rural areas, and Kolkata, potentially saving hours in travel time and providing a substantial boost to trade, commerce, and tourism in the region.
The visit comes amidst protests by the Trinamool Congress (TMC). West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is likely to skip the inauguration of the Kolkata metro projects. A state government official said that the decision to skip the inauguration of the metro projects was taken in the backdrop of alleged harassment of migrants from West Bengal in the BJP-ruled states.
The TMC has organized protest rallies against what they claim is systematic harassment of Bengali-speaking people in BJP-ruled states. According to the TMC, incidents like the detention of migrant workers, eviction drives, and foreigner tribunal notices exemplify linguistic discrimination. Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari has criticized Banerjee, accusing her of using "Bengali pride" as a political shield.
Prior to his visit to West Bengal, PM Modi was in Gaya, Bihar, where he inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for projects worth around ₹13,000 crore. These projects include the Aunta–Simaria bridge on the Ganga River, the Bakhtiyarpur–Mokama section of NH-31, and the Buxar Thermal Power Plant. He also inaugurated the Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital & Research Centre in Muzaffarpur and a sewerage treatment plant at Munger. Furthermore, he flagged off the Amrit Bharat Express between Gaya and Delhi and the Buddhist Circuit Train between Vaishali and Koderma.
PM Modi has stated that there is growing public anger against the TMC and that West Bengal is looking towards the BJP for growth and development. He highlighted that the metro services will make commuting to the airport and the IT hub more convenient.
