PM Modi is scheduled to attend a public programme in Ranaghat, where development projects worth Rs 3,200 crore will be inaugurated. (Express Photo/Partha Paul)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Ranaghat in West Bengal’s Nadia district was delayed on Saturday after his helicopter failed to land at Taherpur due to heavy fog and returned to Kolkata.
Modi had landed at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport around 10.30 am and was to reach Taherpur around 11.15 am, where he was to address a rally and unveil highway projects. This is his first visit to the state since the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls began.
Airport sources said a high-level meeting is on between officials of the National Security Guard (NSG), Special Protection Group (SPG), and the state police to discuss alternative routes for the Prime Minister’s convoy.
PM Modi is scheduled to attend a public programme in Ranaghat, where development projects worth ₹3,200 crore will be inaugurated. These include the inauguration of a 66.7 km four‑lane stretch of the Barajaguli–Krishnanagar section of NH‑34, and the laying of the foundation stone for the four‑laning of the 17.6 km Barasat–Barajaguli section of NH‑34 in the North 24 Parganas district. These projects will serve as a vital connecting link between Kolkata and Siliguri.
The two new national highways are expected to reduce travel time by close to two hours. The projects are also likely to boost economic growth in the region and provide an impetus to tourism.
According to BJP sources, Modi was expected to specifically address members of the Matua community at the Ranaghat rally, as many are anxious about the outcome of the ongoing SIR of the electoral rolls. Of the 17 Matua-dominated Assembly constituencies in Nadia and North 24-Parganas districts, the BJP won all the seats in the 2021 Assembly elections. The party also won the Ranaghat and Bongaon Lok Sabha seats in the Matua belt in the 2024 general elections.
PM Modi is then scheduled to visit Assam for a two-day trip on December 20 and 21.
Tanusree Bose is a dedicated journalist reporting for The Indian Express from Kolkata. Her work focuses sharply on the complex administrative, political, and judicial developments across West Bengal, establishing her as an authoritative voice in regional news coverage.
Experience
Current Role: Reports for the prestigious national daily, The Indian Express, providing her content with a high level of Trustworthiness.
Geographical Expertise: Provides focused, in-depth coverage of West Bengal, demonstrating an intimate knowledge of the state's news and political nuances.
Core Authority: Her reporting portfolio highlights deep Expertise in crucial, often sensitive, beats, including:
State Politics and Governance: Covering the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), opposition strategies (BJP), and internal political controversies.
Judicial and Administrative Affairs: Closely monitoring key developments in the Calcutta High Court, particularly major rulings related to employment, education, and social issues.
Education Sector: Extensive reporting on significant controversies, such as teacher recruitment irregularities and administrative actions by the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education (WBBSE).
Social & Electoral Issues: Covering public events, community tensions (e.g., religious/political gatherings), and election-related processes like the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll.
Tanusree Bose's consistent output and focus on high-stakes regional issues for a trusted media outlet underscore her status as a reliable and authoritative source for news from West Bengal. ... Read More
