Mission East: PM Modi’s ₹13,000+ Crore Gift to Bengal and Assam

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit West Bengal and Assam on December 20 and 21 to inaugurate and lay foundation stones for several major infrastructure projects spanning highways, aviation, and fertiliser production, signalling a strong push for regional development and improved connectivity in eastern India.

On December 20, the Prime Minister will visit Nadia district in West Bengal, where he will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for national highway projects valued at around ₹3,200 crore. These include the inauguration of the 66.7-km four-laning of the Barajaguli–Krishnanagar stretch of National Highway-34 and the foundation stone laying for the 17.6-km four-laning of the Barasat–Barajaguli section of NH-34 in North 24 Parganas district. According to the government, these projects will enhance connectivity between Kolkata and Siliguri, cut travel time by nearly two hours, ease congestion, and strengthen trade and tourism links with neighbouring districts and countries.

Later the same day, PM Modi will travel to Guwahati, Assam, to inaugurate the new terminal building at Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport. The integrated terminal, spread across nearly 1.4 lakh square metres, has been designed to handle up to 1.3 crore passengers annually and features upgraded runway, airfield systems, aprons, and taxiways. The terminal’s architecture reflects Assam’s cultural and ecological heritage, with extensive use of locally sourced bamboo.

On December 21, the Prime Minister will pay tribute to the martyrs of the Assam Movement at Swahid Smarak Kshetra in Boragaon, Guwahati. He will then proceed 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, involving an estimated investment of over ₹10,600 crore. The government said the project will help meet fertiliser demand in Assam and neighbouring states, reduce dependence on imports, and generate employment opportunities. PM Modi is also scheduled to address a public gathering at the site.

The visit highlights the government’s continued emphasis on strengthening infrastructure, expanding industrial capacity, and promoting inclusive economic growth across eastern India.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.