PM Modi to flag off Metro Railway services along three stretches in Kolkata

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off Metro Railway services along three stretches in Kolkata on Friday (August 22, 2025). The three metro projects Noapara-Jai Hind Bimanbandar, Sealdah-Esplanade and Beleghata-Hemanta Mukhopadhyay will boost connectivity in the city.

“Connectivity to and from the airport as well as the IT hub areas will be enhanced,” Mr. Modi posted on social media. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who has been invited to attend the Metro Railway programme, is likely to miss the event.

In another post, the Prime Minister, who will also address a public meeting on Friday (August 22, 2025), said he was eager to be among ‘Bengal BJP karyakartas’ at a rally in Kolkata and took a swipe at the Trinamool Congress (TMC).

“With each passing day, public anger against the TMC is increasing. West Bengal is eagerly looking towards the BJP with hope because of our development agenda,” Mr. Modi said.

Cut travel time

Meanwhile, the three metro projects that will be inaugurated will add 13. 61 km to the existing metro network in Kolkata. The Sealdah–Esplanade metro will reduce the travel time between the two major railway stations — Sealdah and Howrah — in Kolkata from nearly 40 minutes to only 11 minutes. The Noapara–Jai Hind Bimanbandar Metro service will significantly improve the access to the airport. The Beleghata–Hemanta Mukhopadhyay Metro section will play a crucial role in enhancing connectivity with the IT hub.

The Prime Minister will visit the Jessore Road Metro Station, where he will flag off the metro projects and undertake a Metro ride from Jessore Road station to Jai Hind Bimanbandar and back.

Also read: West Bengal’s role is critical to vision of a developed India, says PM Modi

Trinamool Congress leader Kunal Ghosh said the Metro projects were approved when Ms. Banerjee was the Railway Minister and the Prime Minister was just taking credit for these projects before next year’s elections in the State.

Mr. Modi’s last visit to the State was on July 18, 2025 in Durgapur, where he unveiled various development projects and targeted the Trinamool Congress. Amid the detention and harassment of migrant workers from West Bengal in different States, the Prime Minister had said Bengali language and identity were paramount to the BJP but also said infiltrators in the country would be dealt with as per law. Prior to this, Mr. Modi had visited Alipurduar on May 29, 2025 where he had said the people of West Bengal did not want ‘Nirmam Sarkar’ (heartless government).