**Executive Summary**
The Prime Minister will visit West Bengal on March 14, 2026, to inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for development projects worth approximately ₹18,680 crores. These projects encompass road infrastructure, railways, and port and shipping sectors, with a key focus on enhancing connectivity and economic growth. Notably, six redeveloped railway stations under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme will be inaugurated.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Road Infrastructure Projects**
* **Inaugurations and Foundation Stones:** Projects worth ₹16,990 crores for National Highways, including sections of NH-19 (West Bengal and Jharkhand) and NH-114 (West Bengal).
* **Expected Benefits:** Enhanced road safety, reduced travel time, eased congestion and pollution, improved regional connectivity, and boosted tourism and economic growth.
* **New National Highway Projects:** Foundation stone for five packages of the 231 km Kharagpur-Moregram economic corridor (NH-116A), reducing travel distance and time between Kharagpur and Siliguri.
* **Dubrajpur Bypass:** Foundation stone for a 5.6 km four-lane bypass on NH-14 to decongest Dubrajpur town and reduce travel time.
* **River Bridges:** Foundation stone for additional four-lane bridges over the Kangshabati and Shilabati rivers on NH-14.
**Port and Shipping Projects**
* **Haldia Dock Complex:** Inauguration of mechanization project at Berth No. 2 for efficient and environment-friendly cargo handling.
* **Khidderpore Docks:** Inauguration of rejuvenation project at Dock 1 - West.
* **Port Infrastructure:** Foundation stone for mechanization of Berth No. 5 at Haldia Dock Complex (Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port).
* **Kolkata Dock System Projects:** Renovation of Bascule Bridge, yard development at Kidderpore Dock-I (East) and Dock-II (East), bank protection works along the Kolkata riverfront, and construction of a river cruise terminal building.
**Railway Projects**
* **Train Flag-Off:** Flag-off of the Purulia-Anand Vihar Terminal (Delhi) Express to strengthen rail connectivity with the national capital region.
* **Redeveloped Railway Stations:** Inauguration of six redeveloped stations under the Amrit Station Scheme: Kamakhyaguri, Anara, Tamluk, Haldia, Barabhum, and Siuri.
* **New Railway Lines and Signalling:** Dedication of a 16 km third rail line between Belda and Dantan, and Automatic Block Signalling between Kalaikunda and Kanimohuli.
* **Railway Benefits:** Improved train safety and punctuality, reduced congestion, and enhanced passenger travel ease.
**Overall Impact**
* These initiatives signify the Government's commitment to strengthening infrastructure, enhancing connectivity, and accelerating economic growth in West Bengal and eastern India.
**Impact Analysis**
**Residents of West Bengal and Eastern India**
* **Impact:** Improved travel experience through enhanced road and rail infrastructure, reduced travel times, increased safety, and potential for economic opportunities.
* **Action Required:** No specific action required; benefits will be realized through the completed projects.
**Businesses and Industries in the Region**
* **Impact:** Increased efficiency in logistics and transportation due to improved port facilities and connectivity, leading to potential cost savings and business growth.
* **Action Required:** Businesses may need to adapt to improved logistics networks and potentially explore new opportunities arising from enhanced connectivity.
**Government Agencies and Infrastructure Developers**
* **Impact:** The successful completion and inauguration of these projects will be a key performance indicator. Oversight and future planning will be influenced by the project outcomes.
* **Action Required:** Continued monitoring, maintenance, and potential expansion of infrastructure based on the success of these initiatives.
Key Entities Referenced
Amrit Bharat Station Scheme: A scheme under which six railway stations in West Bengal are being redeveloped.
NH-19: National Highway project sections in West Bengal and Jharkhand being inaugurated.
NH-114: National Highway project sections in West Bengal being inaugurated.
NH-116A: Four-lane Kharagpur-Moregram economic corridor section of this National Highway, for which foundation stone is being laid.
Haldia Dock Complex: Location for inauguration of mechanization project and laying of foundation stone for multiple port infrastructure projects.
Prime Minister's Office
PM to visit West Bengal on 14th March
PM to inaugurate and lay foundation stone for development
projects worth around Rs. 18,680 crores in Kolkata
These projects span multiple sectors, including road
infrastructure, railways, port and shipping
PM to inaugurate six redeveloped railway stations in West
Bengal under Amrit Bharat Station Scheme
Posted On: 12 MAR 2026 5:31PM by PIB Delhi
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will visit West Bengal on 14 March 2026. At around 2 PM, Prime
Minister will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for multiple development projects worth around
₹18,680 crore in Kolkata.
In a major boost to road infrastructure in the region, Prime Minister will inaugurate and lay the foundation
stone for several National Highway projects with a combined length of more than 420 km, worth around
₹16,990 crore. The projects being inaugurated include sections of NH-19 in West Bengal and Jharkhand
and NH-114 in West Bengal. These projects are expected to enhance road safety, reduce travel time, ease
congestion and pollution, improve regional connectivity, and promote tourism and boost economic growth
in the region.
Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone for several new National Highway projects. These include
five packages of the 231 km long four-lane Kharagpur–Moregram economic corridor section of NH-116A.
The project forms part of the economic corridor between Kharagpur and Siliguri and will pass through
Paschim Medinipur, Bankura, Hooghly, Purba Bardhaman, Birbhum and Murshidabad districts of West
Bengal. Direct Kharagpur–Moregram connectivity will reduce travel distance by around 120 km and save
nearly seven to eight hours of travel time. The corridor will also integrate with key National Highways
including NH-16, NH-19, NH-14 and NH-12, thereby strengthening multi-corridor connectivity. Prime
Minister will lay the foundation stone for the construction of a 5.6 km long four-lane Dubrajpur Bypass on
NH-14, which will help decongest the densely built-up areas of Dubrajpur town and reduce travel time by
nearly one hour. He will also lay the foundation stone for the construction of additional four-lane major
bridges over the Kangshabati and Shilabati rivers on NH-14.
During the visit, Prime Minister will also inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for several shipping and
port-related projects. He will inaugurate the mechanization project of Berth No. 2 at Haldia Dock
Complex, which will enable efficient, faster and environment-friendly cargo handling. The project will
enhance cargo handling capacity, facilitate efficient full-rake rail loading systems, improve keyperformance indicators, increase safety by reducing human exposure to hazardous operations, and
generate employment. Prime Minister will also inaugurate the rejuvenation project at Khidderpore Docks
(Dock 1 – West).
Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone for multiple port infrastructure projects in the state.
These include the mechanization of Berth No. 5 at Haldia Dock Complex of Syama Prasad Mookerjee
Port. Other projects include renovation of the Bascule Bridge at Kolkata Dock System; yard development
including drainage systems at Kidderpore Dock-I (East) and Dock-II (East); bank protection works along
the Kolkata riverfront from the Howrah Bridge pylon to Nimtala Ghat; and construction of a terminal
building for a river cruise terminal and river tourism facility near the Indenture Memorial complex at
Kolkata Dock System.
In the railways sector, Prime Minister will flag off the Purulia-Anand Vihar Terminal (Delhi) Express,
strengthening rail connectivity between West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and the national
capital region.
Prime Minister will also inaugurate six redeveloped railway stations under the Amrit Station Scheme.
These stations include Kamakhyaguri, Anara, Tamluk, Haldia, Barabhum and Siuri.
Prime Minister will also dedicate to the nation two railway projects: the 16 km long third rail line between
Belda and Dantan, and the Automatic Block Signalling system between Kalaikunda and Kanimohuli.
These projects will improve train safety and punctuality, reduce congestion and enhance the overall ease
of travel for passengers in the region.
These initiatives reflect the Government’s continued commitment to strengthening infrastructure,
enhancing connectivity and accelerating economic growth in West Bengal and eastern India.
****
MJPS/VJ
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