Guwahati, Jan 17: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of multiple rail and road infrastructure projects worth over ₹3,250 crore at Malda, marking a major push to strengthen connectivity in West Bengal and the North-Eastern region. The centrepiece of the event was the launch of India’s first Vande Bharat Sleeper Train between Howrah and Guwahati (Kamakhya), a milestone in the modernization of Indian Railways.
Calling it a historic moment, Modi said the sleeper Vande Bharat connects “the land of Maa Kali to the land of Maa Kamakhya,” symbolising both cultural and physical integration. “In the coming times, this modern train will expand across the entire country. I congratulate Bengal, Assam and the entire nation,” he said, adding that long-distance rail travel in India is entering a new era of comfort, speed and safety.
The fully air-conditioned sleeper train, designed to offer an airline-like experience at affordable fares, will cut travel time on the Howrah–Guwahati route by around 2.5 hours and is expected to give a major boost to tourism and religious travel.
The Prime Minister also announced the launch of four new Amrit Bharat Express trains—New Jalpaiguri–Nagercoil, New Jalpaiguri–Tiruchirappalli, Alipurduar–Bengaluru, and Alipurduar–Mumbai (Panvel). He said these services would significantly strengthen rail connectivity between North Bengal and South and Western India, benefiting pilgrims, migrant workers, students, traders and tourists.
“Indian Railways is not only becoming modern, it is becoming self-reliant,” Modi said, noting that India now manufactures locomotives and coaches at a scale surpassing several advanced economies and exports rail equipment to multiple countries. He added that over 150 Vande Bharat trains are already running across India, transforming travel for poor and middle-class families alike.
During his visit, the Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone for four key railway projects in West Bengal, including the Balurghat–Hili new rail line, next-generation freight maintenance facilities at New Jalpaiguri, upgradation of the Siliguri Loco Shed, and modernization of Vande Bharat maintenance facilities in Jalpaiguri district. He dedicated to the nation the electrification of the New Coochbehar–Bamanhat and New Coochbehar–Boxirhat rail sections, enabling cleaner and more energy-efficient operations.
Two additional long-distance trains with LHB coaches—Radhikapur–SMVT Bengaluru Express and Balurghat–SMVT Bengaluru Express—were also flagged off to improve direct connectivity to major IT and employment hubs.
“Connecting India is our priority and reducing distances is our mission,” the Prime Minister said, asserting that these projects would position eastern and north-eastern India as key growth engines of the nation.
West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav, and Union Ministers Shantanu Thakur and Sukanta Majumdar were among the dignitaries present at the event.
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