Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited West Bengal and Assam on December 20 and 21 to inaugurate and lay the foundation stones for major infrastructure projects spanning highways, aviation, and fertiliser production, with total investments exceeding ₹13,000 crore.
On December 20, the Prime Minister started his visit to West Bengal before travelling to Assam later in the day. The tour is part of a series of government-led infrastructure initiatives aimed at boosting connectivity, strengthening industrial capacity, and accelerating regional development.
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Highway projects in West Bengal
The Prime Minister visited Ranaghat in West Bengal’s Nadia district on December 20, where he inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for national highway projects worth around ₹3,200 crore. He is also addressing a public gathering.
He inaugurated the 66.7-km four-laning of the Barajaguli–Krishnanagar section of National Highway-34 in Nadia district and laid the foundation stone for the four-laning of the 17.6-km Barasat–Barajaguli section of NH-34 in North 24 Parganas district.
According to the government, these projects are expected to significantly improve connectivity between Kolkata and Siliguri, reduce travel time by nearly two hours, and ease traffic congestion. The highway upgrades are also aimed at strengthening links with neighbouring districts and countries, while supporting trade and tourism.
Airport inauguration and fertiliser project in Assam
Later on December 20, Prime Minister Modi reached Guwahati, where he inaugurated the new terminal building of Lokapriya Gopinath Bardoloi International Airport and addressed a gathering.
The integrated terminal, spread across nearly 1.4 lakh square metres, has been designed to handle up to 1.3 crore passengers annually. The project also includes upgrades to the runway, airfield systems, aprons, and taxiways. The terminal incorporates design elements inspired by Assam’s cultural and ecological heritage and makes use of locally sourced bamboo.
On the morning of December 21, the Prime Minister visited Swahid Smarak Kshetra in Boragaon, Guwahati, to pay tribute to the martyrs of the Assam Movement.
He later travels to Namrup in Dibrugarh district to perform the bhoomi pujan for a brownfield ammonia-urea fertiliser project of Assam Valley Fertiliser and Chemical Company Limited, within the existing premises of Brahmaputra Valley Fertiliser Corporation Limited.
The project involves an estimated investment of over ₹10,600 crore. According to the government, it is expected to meet fertiliser demand in Assam and neighbouring states, reduce import dependence, and generate employment. The Prime Minister will address a gathering at the site following the ceremony.
