PM Modi inaugurates the Kollam bypass in Kerala

Published By : Admin | January 15, 2019 | 16:55 IST
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The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi visited Kollam in Kerala today. He dedicated the 13 km, 2-lane Kollam bypass on NH-66 to the nation. The Governor of Kerala Shri Justice P. Sathasivam, CM of Kerala Shri PinarayiVijayan, Union Minister of Tourism Shri K J Alphons along with other dignitaries were present on this occasion.

Addressing a gathering at the Asramam ground in Kollam, Prime Minister Modisaid that infrastructure development has been the priority of his Government and the Kollam bypass is an example.

He underlined the fact that the project got final sanction in January 2015 and now it has seen the light of the day. The Prime Minister told that his Government believes in sabkasaath, sabkavikas for ease of living to the common man and appreciated the contribution and co-operation of Kerala government in completion of the project.

Kollam Bypass will reduce ravel time between Alappuzha and Thiruvananthapuram and decongest the traffic in Kollam town.

Talking about the projects in Kerala, the PM said that about 500 km of national highway has been added in Keralasince May 2014. He added that under Bharatmala, a detailed project report for the Mumbai-Kanyakumari corridor is under preparation. .

The Prime Minister said that the government is committed to ensure timely completion of all the projects.  He said that through PRAGATI,more than 250 projects worth Rs.12 lakh crores have been reviewed at his end.

Highlighting the progress in road connectivity, the PM Modi said that compared to the previous Government, the pace of construction in national highways, rural roads has almost doubled. More than 90% of rural habitations have been connected today compared to only 56% in the previous government.  He expressed hope that the government will reach the target of 100% rural road connectivity soon. Regional air connectivity and expansion of railway lines have shown marked improvement resulting in creation of job opportunities.The Prime Minister said, “When we construct roads and bridges, we do not only connect towns and villages. We also connect aspirations with achievements, optimism with opportunities and hope with happiness.”

About Ayushman Bharat, he said that 8 lakh patients have been benefitted under this scheme while the government has sanctioned more than 1100 crores rupees till date for the scheme. He urged the Government of Kerala to expedite the implementation of Ayushman Bharat scheme, so that the people of Kerala can be benefitted.

 The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi said that tourism is the hallmark of Kerala’s economic development and a principal contributor to the State’s economy. He added that recognizing the tourism potential of Kerala, the government has sanctioned 7 projects in the State under the SwadeshDarshan and PRASAD schemes with funds worth Rs. 550 crore.

Speaking on the importance of Tourism Sector, PM highlighted the remarkable growth in this sector. India posted a growth of 14% over 2016 in the tourism sector while the world grew at an average of 7%. He added that India now stands at 3rd place in Power Ranking in the 2018 report of the World Travel & Tourism Council. Foreign tourist arrivals in India increased by 42% from around 70 lakh in 2013 to about 1 crore in 2017. While the Foreign exchange earned by India due to tourism witnessed a jump of 50%, up from $ 18 billionin 2013 to $ 27 billion in 2017. He described the introduction of the e-Visa as a game changer for Indian Tourism which is now available to nationals of 166 countries.

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Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will visit West Bengal on 20-21 June 2026. On 20 June, at around 3:45 PM, the Prime Minister will participate in Paschimbanga Divas (West Bengal Day) celebrations at Tarakeswar in Hooghly district. He will launch, dedicate to the nation and lay the foundation stone of multiple development projects in West Bengal. He will also address the gathering on the occasion.

On 21 June, at around 6:30 AM, the Prime Minister will participate in the 12th International Yoga Day celebration in Kolkata. He will also address the gathering on the occasion.

Later, at around 9:15 AM, Prime Minister will commission three indigenously designed and built naval ships - INS Dunagiri, INS Sanshodhak and INS Agray at Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata. He will also address the gathering on the occasion.

PM in Hooghly

Prime Minister will participate in Paschimbanga Divas (West Bengal Day) celebrations. The State-level celebrations are being held at Tarakeswar, Hooghly, a place of historic significance associated with Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee.

The theme for this year’s Paschimbanga Divas: “West Bengal: Heritage, Harmony and Development,” reflects the State’s cultural richness, social cohesion and developmental aspirations.

During the programme, Prime Minister will launch, dedicate to the nation and lay the foundation stone of multiple development projects. Spanning the sectors of railways, agriculture, rural development, fisheries and animal husbandry, these initiatives will strengthen infrastructure, improve livelihoods, enhance farmer welfare and accelerate socio-economic development across the State.

Prime Minister will release the 23rd instalment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN). Under this instalment, more than ₹18,880 crore will be transferred directly into the bank accounts of over 9.44 crore farmers across the country.

In West Bengal alone, more than ₹900 crore will be credited to over 45 lakh beneficiaries, taking the cumulative disbursement under the scheme in the State to over ₹15,000 crore. The total disbursement nationwide to over ₹4.46 lakh crore since the launch of the scheme in 2019.

Prime Minister to kickstart rollout of several key Central Agricultural Schemes in West Bengal. These schemes include Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, Agri Stack as part of the Digital Agriculture Mission, National Mission on Natural Farming and Pradhan Mantri Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana

Prime Minister will launch the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)in West Bengal, extending the benefits of the world’s largest crop insurance scheme to farmers in the State. During 2026–27, the initiative aims to provide insurance coverage to nearly 50 LAKH farmers across about 14 lakh hectares of agricultural land in the state of West Bengal, protecting crops with an estimated insured value of around ₹28,140 crore while supporting farmers through substantial premium subsidy.

As part of the Digital Agriculture Mission, Prime Minister will launch AgriStack in West Bengal, enabling a unified digital platform for verified agriculture-related services such as fertiliser distribution, Kisan Credit Cards, Direct Benefit Transfers and procurement under the Minimum Support Price system. The initiative will strengthen digital governance in agriculture and facilitate efficient delivery of farmer-centric services.

Prime Minister will further launch the National Mission on Natural Farming in West Bengal to promote sustainable, chemical-free agriculture rooted in traditional Indian practices. Under the approved Annual Action Plan for 2026–27, the State will establish 346 natural farming clusters covering 17,300 hectares, while also creating Bio-Input Resource Centres and mobilising Krishi Sakhis to strengthen adoption of eco-friendly farming practices.

In a major step towards integrated agricultural development, Prime Minister will also initiate the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY) in West Bengal. The scheme will cover the districts of Purulia, Darjeeling, Alipurduar and Jhargram with a focus on improving agricultural productivity, promoting crop diversification and sustainable farming, strengthening post-harvest infrastructure and irrigation facilities, enhancing access to institutional credit, and ensuring convergence of multiple Central and State schemes for holistic rural development.

Prime Minister will inaugurate the Modernized and capacity expanded Fishing Harbour at Fraserganj in South 24 Parganas and the newly constructed Modern Fish Market at Sainthia, Birbhum. These projects will strengthen fisheries infrastructure, improve post-harvest management and provide better marketing facilities for fish producers and traders.

Prime Minister will also inaugurate the Regional Semen Production Laboratory and Semen Bank for Goats at Haringhata in Nadia district. Established under the National Livestock Mission of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, it is the first such facility in Eastern India and will contribute significantly to scientific livestock breeding, genetic improvement and enhanced productivity.

Prime Minister will dedicate to the nation and lay the foundation stone of important railway projects worth around ₹590 crore. Prime Minister will dedicate to the nation the Sankrail–Santragachi Link Line Project in Howrah district. The project will play an important role in decongesting one of the busiest rail corridors in Eastern India, improving operational efficiency and enabling smoother movement of both passenger and freight trains.

Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone of a 300-bed New Divisional Railway Hospital at Howrah. Equipped with modern healthcare infrastructure, advanced diagnostic facilities, specialist medical services and emergency care facilities, the hospital will significantly strengthen healthcare services for railway beneficiaries and the people of the region.

Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone of a Road Over Bridge between Haur and Radhamohanpur in Purba Medinipur district. The project will enhance safety for both rail and road users and facilitate smooth and uninterrupted movement of traffic.

Prime Minister will inaugurate 49 road infrastructure projects developed under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY-III). Covering a total length of more than 315 kilometres across various districts of West Bengal, these projects will improve rural connectivity, facilitate access to markets, educational institutions and healthcare facilities, and contribute to balanced regional development.

These projects collectively represent a major step towards strengthening infrastructure, empowering farmers, enhancing livelihoods and creating new economic opportunities across West Bengal. The initiatives will contribute significantly to the vision of a Viksit West Bengal and Viksit Bharat by promoting inclusive growth, modern infrastructure and sustainable development.

PM in Kolkata

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will lead the national observance of the 12th International Day of Yoga from Red Road in Kolkata. Prime Minister will address the gathering and participate in the Common Yoga Protocol session along with thousands of Yoga practitioners.

The theme of International Day of Yoga 2026, “Yoga for Healthy Ageing”, highlights the role of Yoga in promoting physical health, mental well-being, emotional resilience and active ageing, thereby contributing to an improved quality of life. The theme is particularly relevant in an era of increasing life expectancy and growing emphasis on healthy, active and dignified ageing. Since its inception in 2015, when the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted India’s proposal to observe 21st June as IDY, Prime Minister has led the celebrations from various locations including New Delhi, Chandigarh, Lucknow, Mysuru, New York (UN Headquarters), and Srinagar and Vishakhapatnam.

Yoga Day celebrations are being organised across nearly 2,500 locations worldwide, with participation from more than 210 Indian Missions and Posts, reaffirming Yoga’s status as a global movement for health, harmony and collective well-being.

Prime Minister will also commission three indigenously designed and built naval ships - INS Dunagiri, an advanced stealth frigate, INS Sanshodhak, a survey vessel (large) and INS Agray, an anti-submarine warfare shallow water craft.

These inductions will significantly bolster the nation’s operational capabilities, enhance maritime domain awareness, and strengthen the security of our coastal waters against geopolitical threats.

All three ships were designed by the Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau and constructed in Kolkata by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), with extensive participation by Indian industry, including more than 200 MSMEs. With an indigenous content of over 75 percent, these ships are also a testament to India’s commitment to Aatmanirbharta.