Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday laid the foundation stone for multiple development projects worth Rs 15,000 crore in sectors like power, rail and road at Krishnanagar in West Bengal’s Nadia district.
“I am fortunate as development projects worth more than Rs 15,000 crore are being inaugurated and foundation stones are laid encompassing electricity, road, and railway sectors to make the lives of West Bengal’s citizens easier. These projects would give momentum to the development of West Bengal and also provide better employment opportunities for the youth,” Modi said.
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Laying stress on the importance of electricity in the process of development, PM Modi said that the government is working to make West Bengal self-reliant for its electricity needs.
The Prime Minister said that West Bengal acts as an “eastern gate” for the country and there is immense potential for opportunities for the east from here.
“It is our effort that West Bengal becomes self-reliant for its present and future electricity needs. West Bengal acts as the eastern gate for the country and many eastern states. Government is working for modern infrastructure of roadways, railways, airways and waterways,” said Modi.
During the event, Modi laid the foundation stone for Raghunathpur Thermal Power Station Phase II (2×660 MW) located at Raghunathpur in Purulia district; inaugurated the Flue gas desulfurization (FGD) system of Units 7 and 8 of Mejia Thermal Power Station; inaugurated a four-laning project of Farakka-Raiganj Section of NH-12; and dedicated to the nation four rail projects worth more than Rs 940 crore in West Bengal.
According to PM Modi, the Raghunathpur Thermal Power Station Phase II, a coal-based thermal power project of the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC), will bring more than Rs 11,000 crore worth of investment in the state. Furthermore, the FGD system of Units 7 and 8 of Mejia Thermal Power Station, developed at a cost of about Rs 650 crore, is an example of India’s seriousness towards environmental issues, he said.
West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose and Union Minister of State for Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Shantanu Thakur were present at the event.