Narendra Modi will visit West Bengal on March 14 to inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for development projects worth around ₹18,680 crore in Kolkata, aimed at boosting infrastructure, connectivity and economic growth in the region.

According to the Press Information Bureau, the projects span multiple sectors including road infrastructure, railways, ports and shipping.

As part of the visit, the Prime Minister will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for several National Highway projects covering over 420 km, worth nearly ₹16,990 crore. These include sections of NH-19 in West Bengal and Jharkhand and NH-114 in West Bengal, which are expected to improve road safety, reduce travel time, ease congestion and promote tourism and regional economic activity.

Modi will also lay the foundation stone for five packages of the 231-km Kharagpur–Moregram economic corridor on NH-116A, which forms part of the larger corridor connecting Kharagpur and Siliguri. The project will pass through districts including Paschim Medinipur, Bankura, Hooghly, Purba Bardhaman, Birbhum and Murshidabad. Once completed, it is expected to reduce travel distance by about 120 km and cut travel time by seven to eight hours.

Additionally, the Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone for a 5.6-km four-lane Dubrajpur bypass on NH-14, as well as additional four-lane bridges over the Kangshabati and Shilabati rivers, aimed at reducing congestion and improving connectivity.

In the port and shipping sector, Modi will inaugurate the mechanisation project of Berth No. 2 at Haldia Dock Complex and the rejuvenation project at Khidderpore Docks under the Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port. These projects are expected to enhance cargo handling capacity, improve operational efficiency and create employment opportunities.

He will also lay the foundation stone for several port infrastructure projects including the mechanisation of Berth No. 5 at Haldia Dock Complex, renovation of the Bascule Bridge at Kolkata Dock System, yard development works at Kidderpore Dock and bank protection works along the Kolkata riverfront. A river cruise terminal and tourism facility near the Indenture Memorial complex is also planned.

In the railways sector, the Prime Minister will flag off the Purulia–Anand Vihar Terminal Express, strengthening rail connectivity between West Bengal and regions including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand.

Modi will also inaugurate six redeveloped railway stations under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme — Kamakhyaguri, Anara, Tamluk, Haldia, Barabhum and Siuri.

Further, he will dedicate two railway projects to the nation — the 16-km third rail line between Belda and Dantan and the Automatic Block Signalling system between Kalaikunda and Kanimohuli, which are expected to enhance train safety, reduce congestion and improve punctuality.

The initiatives are part of the central government’s efforts to strengthen infrastructure and accelerate development across eastern India.