PM Modi Inaugurates ₹5,200 Crore Development Push in Kolkata.
National
On 22 August 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for multiple development projects worth over ₹5,200 crore in Kolkata, West Bengal. These include three major metro stretches and a six-lane elevated expressway, aimed at enhancing urban mobility and interoperability across the metro, rail, and road networks.
- PM Modi flagged off three new Kolkata Metro corridors, adding approximately 14 km to the network and expanding the city’s transit grid to 74 km. These include the Sealdah–Esplanade (Green Line), Noapara–Jai Hind Bimanbandar (Yellow Line), and Hemanta Mukhopadhyay–Beleghata (Orange Line) stretches—linking crucial hubs like the airport, Howrah, and the IT district with enhanced connectivity.
- One of the key expansions is the Yellow Line extension from Noapara to Jai Hind (airport) station—marking Kolkata’s first metro-airport link. This 7 km stretch, operational since the inauguration, notably reduces travel time between the city and the airport, offering seamless airport access for commuters.
Main Point :- (i) The Sealdah–Esplanade section on the East-West Metro (Green Line) finally became fully operational, completing the 16.6 km metro route from Sector-V to Howrah Maidan via the Hooghly River. This milestone marks the culmination of a 16-year effort near identity-defining infrastructure.
(ii) In addition to rail projects, the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for a 7.2 km, six-lane elevated Kona Expressway. Valued at over ₹1,200 crore, this elevated road corridor will significantly improve connectivity between Howrah, its outskirts, and Kolkata, reducing congestion and enhancing commute efficiency.
(iii) PM Modi emphasized the need for 21st-century transport infrastructure—linking metro, rail, and roads—for urban development. He also highlighted India’s rapid metro expansion—from 250 km in 2014 to over 1,000 km by 2025. Inclusive public transport and initiatives like waste-to-wealth and green mobility were underscored as emblematic of modern India's progress.
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