The Prime Minister will visit West Bengal on 30th December 2022. Around 11:15 AM, the Prime Minister will flag off the Vande Bharat Express from Howrah to New Jalpaiguri. In addition, he will lay the foundation stone for various Railway projects and inaugurate the Joka-Taratala stretch of the Kolkata Metro. Prime Minister will arrive at INS Netaji Subhas at noon for the inauguration of Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee – National Institute of Water and Sanitation (DSPM-NIWAS). A number of sewerage infrastructure projects will also be dedicated to the nation under the National Mission for Clean Ganga by him. At around 12:25 PM, Prime Minister will chair the second meeting of the National Ganga Council.
PM at INS Netaji Subhas
The Prime Minister will chair the 2nd meeting of the National Ganga Council (NGC) in Kolkata on 30th December 2022. Members of the council will attend the meeting, including the Union Minister for Jal Shakti, as well as the Chief Ministers of Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal. The National Ganga Council has been given the overall responsibility for the superintendence of pollution prevention and rejuvenation of River Ganga and its tributaries.
The Prime Minister will inaugurate seven sewerage infrastructure projects under the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) at a cost of more than Rs 990 crore. As a result of these projects, municipalities such as Nabadwip, Kacharapra, Halishar, Budge-Budge, Barrackpore, Chandan Nagar, Bansberia, Uttrapara Kotrung, Baidyabati, Bhadreshwar, Naihati, Garulia, Titagarh, and Panihati will benefit. West Bengal will gain over 200 MLD of sewage treatment capacity as a result of these projects.
Additionally, the Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone for 5 sewerage infrastructure projects (8 Sewage Treatment Plants and an 80 Km Network) under the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) at a cost of Rs 1585 crore. West Bengal will gain 190 MLD of new STP capacity as a result of these projects. North Barrackpore, Hooghly-Chinsura, Kolkata KMC area-Garden Reach & Adi Ganga (Tolly Nala), and Mahestala town will benefit from these projects.
Inauguration of Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee – National Institute of Water and Sanitation (DSPM – NIWAS), developed at Joka, Diamond Harbour Road, Kolkata at an estimated cost of Rs 100 crore. In addition to serving as a hub of information and knowledge for the Central, State, and Local governments, the Institute will be the apex body in the country for water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH).
PM at Howrah Railway Station
At the Howrah Railway Station, the Prime Minister will flag off the Vande Bharat Express connecting Howrah and New Jalpaiguri. Semi-High Speed Trains are equipped with state-of-the-art amenities for passengers. The train will stop at Malda Town, Barsoi, and Kishanganj stations en route on both directions.
The joke-Taratala Stretch of the Joka-Esplanade Metro Project (Purple Line) will be inaugurated by the Prime Minister. At a cost of more than Rs 2475 Crore, the 6.5 km stretch has 6 stations including Joka, Thakurpukur, Sakher Bazar, Behala Chowrasta, Behala Bazar, and Taratala. Inauguration of this project will greatly benefit passengers in southern parts of Kolkata City like Sarsuna, Dakghar, Muchipara, and South 24 Parganas.
The Prime Minister will also dedicate four railway projects to the nation during the program. At a cost of Rs 405 crore, the Boinchi-Shaktigarh 3rd Line was constructed; Dankuni-Chandanpur 4th Line was constructed at a cost of Rs 565 crore; Nimtita – New Farakka Double Line was constructed at a cost of Rs 254 crore; and Ambari Falakata – New Maynaguri – Gumanihat Doubling Project was constructed at a cost of more than Rs 1080 crore. In addition, the Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone for the redevelopment of the New Jalpaiguri Railway Station, which will cost more than Rs 335 crore.
*News Source: PIB India*