On May 29, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that West Bengal plays an important role in India’s goal of becoming a developed country. He was speaking in Alipurduar, West Bengal, during the launch of a new City Gas Distribution (CGD) network.
The ₹1,010 crore project will provide clean gas to around 2.5 lakh homes in the state. PM Modi said Bengal’s growth is not just expected, but necessary for India’s progress.
Read More: Mukesh Ambani and Gautam Adani Announce Big Investments in North-East India
He highlighted that in 2014, only 66 districts in India had city gas services. Today, the service has expanded to over 550 districts. This shows how fast India is moving towards using gas as a clean and affordable energy source.
“This is more than just a pipeline—it brings government services right to people’s homes,” said PM Modi. “It will give households cleaner and cheaper fuel.”
Gas Connection Growth
PM Modi also spoke about the success of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, which provides LPG connections to households. In 2014, there were less than 14 crore LPG connections in India. Today, the number has increased to over 31 crore. The number of LPG distributors has also gone up from under 14,000 to over 25,000.
This expansion has helped millions of families switch to clean cooking gas.
Importance of West Bengal
PM Modi said that West Bengal has always been a hub of culture, education, and science. For India to develop fully, Bengal must also grow, he added.
Over the last 10 years, the central government has spent thousands of crores on various projects in the state. Some of the major projects he mentioned include:
- Purva Expressway
- Durgapur Expressway
- Modernisation of Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Port
- Expansion of the Kolkata Metro
- Upgradation of New Jalpaiguri Railway Station
PM Modi expressed hope that West Bengal will continue to develop and bring back its past glory.
