The Prime Minister(PM) of India shri Narendra Modi paid a two-day official visit to Kolkata, West Bengal from January 11-12, 2020. The visit in detail are as follows:
Rs.600 crore worth projects on 150th year celebrations of Kolkata Port Trust launched:
Shri Modi renamed Kolkata Port as Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Port on the occasion of sesquicentenary (150th year) celebrations of the Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT). Important events during the celebrations are as follows:
i.Rs.600 crore projects: During the occasion projects worth Rs.600 crores were launched. Some of the projects include upgradation of ship repair facility at Netaji Subhash Dry Dock (Kolkata) and upgradation of railway infrastructure of Kolkata dock system of the Kolkata Port. This is done in order to enhance smooth movement and river front development scheme.
ii.Stamp & anthem launch: A commemorative stamp on 150th years of KoPT was launched. Apart from the stamp, Port anthem was also launched at Netaji Indoor Stadium in Kolkata.
iii.Oldest pensioners of port honoured: Two oldest pensioner of the port Smt. Nagina Bhagat (105 years) and Mr. Naresh Chandra Chakraborty (100 years) were honoured at the event.
iv.Final installment of pension funds: Rs.501 crore was handed over by prime minister to the chairman of Life Insurance Corporation(LIC) Mr M.R. Kumar for the final installment to meet deficit of pension funds of the Kolkata Port Trust.
v.Berth mechanisation: Mechanisation of Berth No 3 at Haldia Dock Complex of KoPT and a proposed riverfront development scheme was also launched.
vi.Key speeches: Some of the key speeches by the PM during the event are as follows:
- Old ports have been modernised to new ports under the sagarmala project.
- The govt has planned to expand inland waterways through integrated transport policy. Water based tourism has also been advocated for water based tourism.
vii.Members present: Union Minister for Shipping Mr. Mansukh Mandaviya, West Bengal Governor Mr. Jagdeep Dhankar and other officials were present in the event.
PM Dedicated 4 refurbished heritage buildings in Kolkata to the Nation:
4 refurbished heritage buildings in Kolkata were dedicated to the nation by PM Modi. these 4 buildings were
- Old Currency Building.
- The Belvedere House.
- The Metcalfe House and
- The Victoria Memorial Hall.
i.Key Speeches: The key speeches by the PM during the event include
- Museum with international standards: Making of 5 iconic museums in India with International standards. This has been started with the Indian Museum in Kolkata which is one of the oldest museums in the world.
- Heritage conservation institute: The govt. is planning to launch Indian Institute of Heritage Conservation which will be given deemed status. This institute will be responsible to undertake the management of these cultural heritage centres.
- Belvedere House: Govt. has taken steps to develop Belvedere House into a Museum of the World.
- Coinage & commerce museum: The govt. is contemplating (planning) to set up a museum of “Coinage & Commerce” at the Indian Government Mint in Kolkata.
- Biplabi Bharat: 3 of the 5 galleries of Victoria memorial will be restarted and will be known by the name Biplabi Bharat.
- Tribute to leaders: India’s 75th independence day in 2022 also marks 250th birth anniversary of renowned social reformer and educationist Shri Raja Ram Mohan Rai. This year 2020 marks the 200th birth anniversary of Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar who was a key figure of the Bengal renaissance.
Other important events:
Various other important events like launches, inaugurations etc are as follows:
i.Statue at Old Currency Building unveiled: The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi unveiled a statue at the old currency building in Kolkata
ii.Development centre for tribal students: Inaugurated the Kaushal Vikas Kendra (skill development training centre) and Pritilata Chhatri Avas (student behavior centre) for 200 tribal girl students from Sundarbans, West Bengal.
iii.Tribute to Swami Vivekananda at Belur Math: The prime minister paid tribute to Indian monk, Swami Vivekananda on his birth anniversary at Belur Math (Howrah district of West Bengal) which is the headquarters of the Ramakrishna Mission. Modi is the 1st prime minister to stay overnight at the Belur Math.
iv.Sound and light show at Howrah Bridge: Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the sound and light show at the iconic Howrah Bridge installed at Millenium Park on the banks of the river Ganga. This 2.5-minute show is a project of KoPT’s 150th anniversary celebrations.
- Howrah bridge: It is a bridge with a suspended span over the Hooghly River in West Bengal, India. The bridge was commissioned in 1943 and on 14 June 1965 it was renamed Rabindra Setu after the great Bengali poet Rabindranath Tagore (1st Indian & Asian Nobel laureate) but is still popularly known as the Howrah Bridge.
About West Bengal:
Capital- Kolkata (Also largest city).
Governor- Jagdeep Dhankhar.
Chief minister- Mamata Banerjee.
National Parks(NP)- Gorumara NP, Neora Valley NP, Singalila NP, Sundarban NP.
