Image Source: Economic Times Energy
Key highlights
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on July 18, 2025, inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for a portfolio of development projects worth over ₹5,400 crore in Durgapur, West Bengal. This ambitious initiative aims to boost infrastructure, job creation, industrial modernization, and cleaner energy, framing West Bengal as a rising development engine in India's march toward becoming a developed nation by 2047.
Major Sectors and Projects Covered
The roll-out encompasses critical sectors: oil and gas, energy, roads, and rail.
One of the flagship features is the Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) City Gas Distribution (CGD) project in Purulia and Bankura, worth around ₹1,950 crore. The project will supply piped natural gas to houses, CNG to automobiles, and generate sizable employment in the area.
The Durgapur-Kolkata stretch of the Durgapur-Haldia Natural Gas Pipeline, a major component of the Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga (PMUG) project, was launched. The 132-kilometer-long pipeline, constructed at a cost of more than ₹1,190 crore, will provide natural gas to thousands of houses, catering to domestic and commercial segments.
Modernization of key steel and power units at Durgapur and Raghunathpur, with new flue gas desulphurization technology, was initiated with an investment of about ₹1,500 crore, targeting cleaner energy and international competitiveness.
Two new road overbridges in Paschim Bardhaman district, costing over ₹380 crore, were inaugurated under the Setu Bharatam Programme to facilitate smooth traffic and improve commuter safety.
Doubling of the Purulia-Kotshila railway line, a project of ₹390 crore, holds the promise of better industrial and passenger connectivity between Jamshedpur, Bokaro, Dhanbad, Ranchi, and Kolkata.
Vision and Impact PM Modi pointed out that this development package is in line with the "Make in India, Make for the World" vision and will generate new employment opportunities for the youth of Bengal, further consolidating Durgapur's position as a Steel City.
He focused on the change over both factories and fields, promoting empowerment through development, self-sufficiency through jobs, and responsive government.
The PM highlighted wider successes: more than four crore pucca houses, 12 crore plus tap water connections, infrastructure upgradation, and digital connectivity now extending to India's farthest reaches—all providing a template for West Bengal's continuing development.
These projects will spur economic growth, introduce cleaner technology, and place West Bengal at the forefront to lead India's growth story in the coming times.
Sources: DD News, Economic Times Energy
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