New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was scheduled to embark on a visit to West Bengal to launch the developmental projects, may join the events through video conferencing, sources said on Friday.

The turn of events was necessitated by the demise of PM Modi’s mother Heeraben Modi, who was admitted to an Ahmedabad hospital. The Prime Minister informed the nation about her demise on early Friday morning.
According to sources, PM Modi has left for Ahmedabad.

“PM Modi has left for Ahmedabad, flagging off of Vande Bharat train in Howrah, Kolkata & other developmental works of railways and under Namami Gange & meeting of National Ganga Council to be held as per plan. PM Modi may join through Video Conference,” sources said.

PM @narendramodi will join today’s scheduled programmes in West Bengal via video conferencing. These programmes include the launch of key connectivity related projects and the meeting of the National Ganga Council. https://t.co/eqOSpQcFZe

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) December 30, 2022

Informing about her demise, the Prime Minister posted a heartfelt tweet early Friday morning, “A glorious century rests at the feet of God… In Maa, I have always felt that trinity, which contains the journey of an ascetic, the symbol of a selfless Karmayogi and a life committed to values.”

PM Modi recalled his visit to his mother on her 100th birthday this year.

“When I met her on her 100th birthday, she said one thing, which is always remembered that work with intelligence, live life with purity, that is, work with intelligence and live life with purity,” PM Modi tweeted.

Later today, PM Modi is likely to flag off Vande Bharat Express connecting Howrah to New Jalpaiguri at Howrah Railway Station, besides launching various developmental projects in the state.

This will be West Bengal’s first and the country’s seventh Vande Bharat train to be launched. The last such train was inaugurated for the Bilaspur (Chattisgarh)-Nagpur (Maharashtra) route on December 11.

During his visit, the Prime Minister is likely to inaugurate the Joka-Taratala stretch of the Purple Line of Kolkata Metro.

According to an official release by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the 6.5-Km long Joka-Taratala stretch of the Kolkata metro, having six stations namely Joka, Thakurpukur, Sakher Bazar, Behala Chowrasta, Behala Bazar and Taratala has been constructed at a cost of more than Rs 2475 Crore. Passengers of southern parts of Kolkata like Sarsuna, Dakghar, Muchipara and South 24 Parganas will be immensely benefited from the inauguration of this project.

PM Modi is likely to also lay the foundation stone of multiple Railway projects along with the foundation stone of the redevelopment of New Jalpaiguri Railway station.

“During the programme, Prime Minister is likely to also dedicate four railway projects to the Nation. These include Boinchi – Shaktigarh 3rd Line, developed at a cost of Rs 405 crore; Dankuni – Chandanpur 4th Line Project, developed at a cost of Rs 565 crore; Nimtita – New Farakka Double Line, developed at a cost of Rs 254 crore; and Ambari Falakata – New Maynaguri – Gumanihat Doubling Project, developed at a cost of a cost of more than Rs 1080 crore. Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone for redevelopment of New Jalpaiguri Railway Station, to be developed at a cost of more than Rs 335 crore,” it added.

During his visit, the Prime Minister is likely to also inaugurate Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee National Institute of Water and Sanitation (DSPM – NIWAS), which has been developed at Joka, Diamond Harbour Road, Kolkata at an estimated cost of around Rs 100 Crore. The Institute will serve as an apex body in the country on water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in the country, serving as a hub of information and knowledge for Central, State and local governments.

The statement further said that PM Modi would also lay the foundation stone and dedicate seven sewerage infrastructure projects (20 Sewage Treatment Plants and a 612 km network) developed under the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) at a cost of more than Rs 990 crore. These projects will benefit the municipalities of Nabadwip, Kacharapra, Halishar, Budge-Budge, Barrackpore, Chandan Nagar, Bansberia, Uttrapara Kotrung, Baidyabati, Bhadreshwar, Naihati, Garulia, Titagarh, and Panihati. These projects will add the Sewage Treatment Capacity of over 200 MLD in the state of West Bengal.

“Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone for 5 sewerage infrastructure projects (8 Sewage Treatment Plants and 80 Km Network) to be developed under the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) at an estimated cost of Rs 1585 crore. These projects will add 190 MLD new STP capacity in West Bengal. These projects will benefit areas of North Barrackpore, Hooghly-Chinsura, Kolkata KMC area- Garden Reach and Adi Ganga (Tolly Nala) and Mahestala town,” it added.

Later in the day, Prime Minister is likely to also chair the second meeting of the National Ganga Council which will be attended by the Union Minister for Jal Shakti, other Union Ministers who are members of the council and Chief Ministers of Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal. The National Ganga Council has been given the overall responsibility for the superintendence of pollution prevention and rejuvenation of River Ganga and its tributaries.