30-Dec; Prime Minister Narendra Modi today joined a series of programmes in West Bengal via video conferencing. The programmes included the launch of key connectivity-related projects and the meeting of the National Ganga Council. He virtually flagged off Vande Bharat Express from Howrah Railway Station connecting Howrah to New Jalpaiguri. The Prime Minister said the central government is making record investment to modernise the Indian Railways. Now, modern trains like the Vande Bharat express, Tejas express and the Humsafar express are being made in India. In the next eight years, the country will see railways on a new journey of modernisation,PM added Bengal is the holy land where India’s freedom struggle began.Today, the land where the words ‘Vande Mataram’ was born is getting the gift of Vande Bharat.He further said, the flagging off of VandeBharat is a step towards New India’s aim towards 475 such trains across India. The Prime Minister said that every moment must be utilised for Nation building. He also inaugurates the Joka-Taratala Stretch of Joka-Esplanade Metro Project (Purple Line) of Kolkata Metro.Trial runs on the 6.5 km stretch of Joka -Taratala stretch of Kolkata Metro held in mid-September and it received the mandatory Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) clearance in November.At another programme, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also attended the meeting of the National Ganga Council in Kolkata, West Bengal via video conferencing.
