Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Durgapur in West Bengal on February 2, 2019 where he will address rallies in Thakurnagar and Durgapur.
During the visit, he will dedicate to the nation the railway electrification of 294-km long Andal-Sainthia-Pakur-Malda and Khana-Sainthia sections. Electrification of this section would enable ease of transportation of coal, stone chips and ballast to North and North East India in a seamless manner, said a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office.
In a tweet, Modi said he would also address two BJP rallies on Saturday.
“Tomorrow, I look forward to being among my sisters and brothers of West Bengal. I will be addressing @BJP4Bengal rallies in Thakurnagar and Durgapur,” the PM posted on Friday.
He is also scheduled to dedicate the 20-kilometre Hijli-Narayangarh third line to the nation.
At Thakurnagar, Modi will be attending a religious meeting and cultural programme called by the Matua Manasangh. Heavy security arrangements have been made in view of the visit.
Trial landing of chopers have been carried out on the ground where the PM’s helicopter is scheduled to land on Friday. According to police sources, the helipad has been created for landing of three choppers. While one chopper will bring the PM, another one will ferry his security personnel, and the third will bring a bullet-proof ultra-modern vehicle that Modi will use.
After alighting from the helicopter, Modi will travel to the programme venue in Thakurnagar in this car in a convoy of 34 vehicles, it is learnt. Deployment of as many as 2000 West Bengal Police personnel, 500 personnel from central forces and 150 SPG members has been made to secure the venue.
Modi is scheduled to meet Matua community matriarch Binapani Devi, also known as Boro-Ma, who has not been keeping well. In case the 102-year-old is not able to meet the PM due to her ill health, Modi will pay his respects to her in his address from the stage, it is learnt.
There had been a controversy over PM’s rally in Thakurnagar. Permission had not been granted to hold the PM’s event at the Thakur-bari ground as it had already been booked for a religious function, said Thakur family member Mamata Bala Thakur, a Trinamool Congress MP.
Later, a local teacher offered his mustard field for the rally where all the arrangements were made.
On Friday, the Trinamool Congress held a rally in Thakurnagar criticising the Narendra Modi government’s policies.