Guwahati: Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, is on a 2 day visit to West Bengal and Assam on January 17 & 18, 2026. On January 17, at 12:45PM, the Prime Minister flagged off India’s first Vande Bharat sleeper train between Howrah and Guwahati (Kamakhya) at Malda Town Railway Station in West Bengal. Thereafter, at around 1:45 PM, the Prime Minister dedicated to the nation and laid the foundation stone of multiple rail and road infrastructure projects worth more than Rs 3,250 crore in a public function at Malda. On January 18, the Prime Minister would flag off 2 New Amrit Bharat Express trains between Guwahati (Kamakhya)-Rohtak and Dibrugarh-Lucknow (Gomti Nagar). These new train services will strengthen rail connectivity between the Northeast and Northern India, enabling safer and more convenient travel for the people.
Developed to meet the growing transportation needs of modern India, the fully air-conditioned Vande Bharat Sleeper train is set to offer passengers an airline-like travel experience at economical fares. It will make long-distance journeys faster, safer and more convenient. By significantly reducing travel time by around 2.5 hours on the Howrah–Guwahati (Kamakhya) route, the train will also give a major boost to religious travel and tourism.
Prime Minister Modi also lays the foundation stone of four major railway projects in West Bengal, including the new rail line between Balurghat and Hili, next-generation freight maintenance facilities at New Jalpaiguri, upgradation of the Siliguri Loco Shed and modernization of Vande Bharat train maintenance facilities in Jalpaiguri district. These projects will strengthen passenger and freight operations, improve logistics efficiency in North Bengal and generate employment opportunities in the region.
Prime Minister also dedicated to the nation the electrification of rail lines between New Coochbehar–Bamanhat and New Coochbehar–Boxirhat, enabling faster, cleaner and more energy-efficient train operations. Prime Minister further virtually flagged off 4 New Amrit Bharat Express trains-New Jalpaiguri- Nagercoil Amrit Bharat Express; New Jalpaiguri- Tiruchirappalli Amrit Bharat Express; Alipurduar – SMVT Bengaluru Amrit Bharat Express; Alipurduar – Mumbai (Panvel) Amrit Bharat Express. This will enhance affordable and reliable long-distance rail connectivity. These services will support the mobility needs of common citizens, students, migrant workers and traders, while strengthening inter-state economic and social linkages.
Prime Minister also flagged off two new train services equipped with LHB coaches-Radhikapur–SMVT Bengaluru Express; Balurghat–SMVT Bengaluru Express. These trains will provide the region’s youth, students, and IT professionals with direct, safe and comfortable travel connectivity to major IT and employment hubs such as Bengaluru. Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone for the rehabilitation and four-laning of the Dhupguri–Falakata section of National Highway-31D, a key road project that will improve regional road connectivity and facilitate smoother movement of passengers and goods in North Bengal.
On January 18, around 3 PM, Prime Minister will inaugurate, lay the foundation stone and flag off various development projects worth around Rs. 830 crore at Singur in Hooghly district. These projects will play a vital role in building modern infrastructure creation and improved connectivity, strengthening the Eastern and North-Eastern regions as key growth engines of the Nation. Assam CM Himanata Biswa Sarma, Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya also present in Kamakhya Station in Guwahati and join the PM in the flag ceremony of Vande Bharat rail.
