Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 17, 2026, flagged off India's first-ever Vande Bharat sleeper train between Howrah and Guwahati from Malda Town station in North Bengal. He also virtually launched the return Guwahati–Howrah train. According to a PMO statement, this fully air-conditioned sleeper train offers passengers “an airline-like travel experience at economical fares.” It aims to make long-distance journeys faster, safer, and more comfortable. The new service will cut travel time by about 2.5 hours on the Howrah-Guwahati route, boosting religious travel and tourism significantly. Following the train launch, Modi is set to dedicate multiple rail and road projects costing Rs 3,250 crore in Malda. These projects focus on improving connectivity and development in Bengal and the Northeast. During this two-day visit, Modi will tour poll-bound West Bengal and Assam, mixing political messaging with infrastructure inaugurations as the 2026 assembly elections approach.