Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually flagged off the Vande Bharat express connecting Howrah and New Jalpaiguri on Friday. He also virtually flagged off metro services on the Joka-Taratala route in Kolkata and attended a meeting of the National Ganga Council. Speaking at the event, Prime Minister sought an ‘apology’ from the people of West Bengal for not being able to attend the scheduled event in person due to ‘personal reasons’. “I was supposed to come to West Bengal but due to personal reasons, I could not come there. I seek forgiveness from the people of Bengal,” he said. The Prime Minister joined the programmes in West Bengal via video conferencing in the wake of the demise of his mother Heeraben Modi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi further asserted that the Union government is making record investments for railway infrastructure modernisation. He said that railway stations, including New Jalpaiguri, are being developed on the lines of airports. Noting that the doubling of tracks and electrification is underway at a record speed, he said that the eastern and western freight corridors will bring revolutionary changes to the country’s economy. “Today’s Vande Bharat train was launched from the land where ‘Vande Mataram’ slogan was coined,” he pointed out. The Prime Minister added, “The launch date of December 30 is significant as Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose had hoisted the tricolour in Andaman and Nicobar Islands on this day in 1943.” On the issue of water pollution, he said that the Centre is laying stress on preventing pollution of rivers. “West Bengal will have 25 new sewage treatment projects, 11 of which have already been completed, while seven will be launched during the day,” he said. “In this year of Azaadi ke Amrit Kaal, we will adopt forward-looking approach to take country ahead. The world is looking at India with great faith; every Indian has to exert himself to live up to this expectation,” he added. About the Joka-Taratala route, PM Modi said the train services will ensure ease of living for residents of Kolkata. “Work on the rest of the route till Esplanade is underway,” he said. The event was also attended by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Governor C V Ananda Bose and Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. Earlier, Banerjee, while speaking on the occasion, condoled the demise of Modi’s mother Hiraben. “Your mother is also our mother,” she said. The CM also said work on four out of the five railway projects that Modi will launch on Friday were started during her tenure as railway minister.
