Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a series of railway projects in West Bengal.

It is expected that the projects unveiled will ease the lives of millions of people around Hooghly. The impact of Made in India is visible in the metro or railway systems being constructed in India from laying tracks and modern locomotives to modern trains and modern coaches, goods and technology used in large quantities has become indigenous.

Metro Railway Extension

    • There is an extension of Metro Railway from Noapara to Dakshineswar in West Bengal and PM flagged off the first service.

    • This 4.1 km extension has been constructed at a cost of Rs. 464 crore, fully funded by the Central Government.

    • This extension will ease out access to the two world famous Kali Temples at Kalighat and Dakshineswar, for lakhs of tourists and devotees, thus will decongest road traffic and improve urban mobility.

    • The two newly built stations namely Baranagar and Dakshineswar have modern passenger amenities and are also aesthetically designed and decorated with murals, photographs, sculptures and idols.

Inauguration of Railway Lines

    • The third line between Kalaikunda and Jhargram has also been inaugurated.

    • This stretch of 30 km of the 132 km long Kharagpur-Adityapur Third Line Project of South Eastern Railway, was sanctioned at an estimated cost of Rs. 1312 crores.

    • The four stations between Kalaikunda and Jhargram have been redeveloped by constructing four new station buildings, six new foot over bridges and eleven new platforms, along with renovation of the existing infrastructure.

    • It will help ensure seamless movement of passenger and freight trains on Howrah-Mumbai Trunk route.

    • The fourth line between Dankuni and Baruipara (11.28 kms) of Howrah – Bardhaman Chord Line and the third line between Rasulpur and Magra (42.42 kms) of Howrah – Bardhaman Main Line which were also dedicated to the nation.

    • - The third line between Rasulpur and Magra has been laid at a cost of Rs. 759 crores, while the fourth line between Dankuni and Baruipara has been laid at a   project cost of  Rs. 195 crores.

Doubling of Azimganj - Khagraghat Road

    • The doubling of Azimganj to Khagraghat Road section, which is a part of Howrah – Bandel – Azimganj section of Eastern Railway, has been laid at a project cost of about Rs 240 crore.

    • These projects will ensure better operational fluidity, less journey time and enhanced safety of train operations, as well as boost the overall economic growth of the region.

(The author is a trainer for Civil Services aspirants. The views expressed here are personal.)