Singur (WB), Jan 18 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday launched development projects worth over Rs 830 crore in West Bengal and flagged off three Amrit Bharat trains connecting Kolkata with other parts of the country.

At a function in Hooghly district's Singur, Modi also inaugurated the Jayrambati-Barogopinathpur-Maynapur rail line, and flagged off a train between Maynapur and Jayrambati.

"All the central projects will accelerate the development of West Bengal. The central government is working to meet the goal of a developed eastern India," the prime minister said while addressing the programme.

The PM laid the foundation stone for the Extended Port Gate System, including an Inland Water Transport (IWT) terminal and a road over bridge, at Balagarh in Hooghly district, according to a statement issued by the PMO.

Spread over approximately 900 acres of land, Balagarh is being developed as a modern cargo handling terminal with an envisaged capacity of about 2.7 million tonnes per annum (MTPA).

The project aims to significantly improve cargo evacuation efficiency by diverting vessel movement away from congested urban corridors.

Noting that there are a lot of possibilities in the waterways sector in Bengal, the prime minister said the central government was working on this.

The launching of projects worth thousands of crores of rupees linked to West Bengal since Saturday was in the direction of the state's growth, Modi said.

The PM had inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for projects worth Rs 3,250 crore from Malda on Saturday.

Maintaining that the development of waterways is necessary for the development of West Bengal and India, he said, "This is the pillar on which a large hub can be made for the state's manufacturing, trade and logistics sectors." The PM said more earning opportunities will be created if more stress is given on ports and related ecosystems.

He said the Centre has made huge investments for capacity expansion of the Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, which includes the Haldia dock complex, and roads under the Sagarmala project for better connectivity.

Claiming that the results of these infrastructural developments are evident, he said, "Last year, the Kolkata Port created a new record in cargo handling." The PM said that the Extended Port Gate System at Balagarh, situated 80 kms from Kolkata, will create new opportunities, reduce traffic and logistics pressure on the city.

Noting that cargo movement through the Hooghly river will increase, Modi said the infrastructural development will help make the Hooghly district a warehousing and trading hub.

"This will lead to investments of hundreds of crores of rupees and jobs for thousands of youths," the PM said, adding that small traders and transporters will benefit while farmers and manufacturers will get the advantage of new markets.

Modi, who also launched a state-of-the-art electric catamaran in Kolkata, said that stress is being given in the country on multi-model connectivity and green mobility.

"Ports, waterways, highways and airports are all being interconnected to ensure seamless travel, reducing cost and time. Our endeavour is also to make our transportation modes nature-friendly," he said.

The PM said both river transport and green mobility will get a boost with hybrid electric boats, making travel through the Hooghly river easier and reducing pollution, also encouraging river-based tourism.

Stating that India is fast advancing in fisheries, seafood production and export of these, Modi said, "My dream is that West Bengal leads the country in this sector." On the development of inland waterways, the central government is supporting Bengal with priority, he said.

"Our fishermen will also get the benefits along with our farmers," he said, adding that all these projects will speed up West Bengal's development.

During the programme at Singur, Modi also flagged off three Amrit Bharat Express trains connecting Kolkata with New Delhi, Varanasi and Chennai.

These trains will run on the Howrah-Anand Vihar Terminal, Sealdah-Banaras, and Santragachi-Tambaram routes.

"The country's first Vande Bharat Sleeper train was flagged off from West Bengal yesterday," the PM, who waved the green flag to the inaugural train at Malda on Saturday, said.

Modi said that the eastern state has got over half a dozen Amrit Bharat Express trains since January 17.

The PM flagged off four Amrit Bharat Express trains on Saturday and three on Sunday through the virtual mode.

"Out of these, one will further strengthen my Lok Sabha constituency Varanasi's connectivity with Bengal. The last 24 hours have been unprecedented for West Bengal in the railway sector, possibly in the last 100 years," the PM said.

Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal was present at the function. PTI AMR PNT BDC