As Prime Minister Narendra Modi prepares to inaugurate new Kolkata Metro sections on August 22, 2025, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has stirred the political pot by claiming credit for the project's inception during her tenure as Railways Minister.
Banerjee took to social media to express her sentiments, stating, "Allow me to be a little nostalgic today". She reminisced about her time as Railways Minister when she planned and sanctioned a series of Metro Railway corridors in Kolkata. She detailed her involvement in drawing blueprints, arranging funds, initiating work, and ensuring connectivity across the city. Banerjee also highlighted her role as Chief Minister in facilitating the projects through land acquisition, road paving, rehabilitation efforts, and impediment removal.
A top state government official said that Banerjee is likely to skip the inauguration of the three Kolkata metro projects by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 22. The decision to skip the inauguration reportedly stems from alleged harassment of Bengali migrants in BJP-ruled states. It is claimed that these projects were originally planned and funded by Mamata Banerjee during her time as Railway Minister. The official also stated that the BJP is inaugurating them before the elections to claim credit after years of slow progress and that the chief minister was only given a routine invitation via letter.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw had invited Banerjee to the inauguration of the three metro projects. The projects include the Sealdah-Esplanade section of the Green Line, the Hemanta Mukhopadhyay (Ruby Crossing)-Beleghata stretch of the Orange Line, and the Noapara-Jai Hind Bimanbandar (airport) section of the Yellow Line.
PM Modi is scheduled to launch multiple development projects worth over ₹5,200 crore in West Bengal. These include inaugurating the newly constructed metro rail network in Kolkata. The new metro sections are expected to reduce travel times significantly. For example, the Sealdah-Esplanade section is projected to cut commuting time from approximately 40 minutes to just 11 minutes. The link to Jai Hind Bimanbandar is expected to improve airport access, while the Beleghata route will enhance connectivity with the city's IT hub.
Modi's itinerary includes flagging off metro services between Noapara and Jai Hind Bimanbandar stations at Jessore Road Metro station. He is also expected to inaugurate the Ruby-Beleghata and Sealdah-Esplanade metro links. Furthermore, Modi will lay the foundation stone for a 7.2-kilometer six-lane elevated Kona Expressway, a project valued at over ₹1,200 crore. This expressway aims to improve connectivity between Howrah, Kolkata, and surrounding areas.
The state BJP has countered the claims of project delays, attributing them to land acquisition hurdles and a lack of cooperation from the state government. They also expressed that the presence of the Chief Minister at the inauguration ceremony was 'desirable'.
The inauguration of these metro routes and other infrastructure projects is expected to significantly improve connectivity, reduce travel times, and boost economic activity in the region.
