Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews, September 14, 2025, Kolkata : Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Kolkata on Sunday evening for a two-day visit during which he will inaugurate the 16th Combined Commanders’ Conference. The conference, which begins on Monday, September 15, is scheduled to be held at the Eastern Command headquarters at Vijay Durg (formerly known as Fort William). Modi, who flew in directly from Manipur, was accompanied by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, both of whom had arrived in Kolkata earlier.
The Combined Commanders’ Conference serves as the apex forum for discussions among the nation’s top civil and military leadership. Key issues related to reforms, transformation, and the technological advancements in the armed forces are expected to dominate the discussions. The conference will also focus on enhancing the operational preparedness of India’s military in light of the rapidly changing strategic scenarios. The chiefs of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, including CDS Anil Chauhan, will also be present at the conference.
The Prime Minister will attend the conference for approximately four hours on Monday morning, after which he will depart for Purnea, Bihar. Security arrangements are tight around the conference venue, with extensive measures in place at the Raj Bhavan, where Modi will be staying overnight. Special Protection Group (SPG) personnel have been deployed, and Kolkata Police officers have conducted thorough checks of the premises.
To ensure smooth security during the visit, local police have advised the public to avoid major roads such as RR Avenue, Hospital Road, AJC Bose Road, Khidirpur Road, and Red Road due to the high-profile nature of the event. Traffic diversions have been put in place, and the city is witnessing heightened security checks at various entry points.
Despite the focus of the visit being on official matters, BJP leaders in the state are visibly excited about Modi’s visit. Union Minister of State Sukanta Majumdar, the former BJP Bengal unit president, noted that even though Modi is here for an important government event, he took the time to wave at BJP workers who gathered at the airport to greet him.
The Prime Minister’s visit to Kolkata is part of his ongoing tour across five states—Mizoram, Manipur, Assam, West Bengal, and Bihar. This visit marks his second trip to Kolkata in recent weeks, following his inauguration of a new metro route in the city just days earlier. However, BJP state leaders have confirmed that Modi will not be attending any party events or public gatherings during this visit, keeping his agenda strictly focused on government and defense matters.
The Combined Commanders’ Conference is an important event for the armed forces, providing a platform for military leaders and policymakers to engage in strategic and conceptual discussions that shape India’s national security policies. As the security environment in the region evolves, this conference plays a critical role in refining military strategies and addressing emerging challenges in defense.
For the Prime Minister, attending the Combined Commanders’ Conference is an opportunity to review the country’s defense capabilities and to engage with military and civilian leaders on the next steps in modernizing India’s armed forces. The presence of high-ranking officials like Rajnath Singh, Ajit Doval, and the chiefs of the three armed services underscores the importance of the conference in shaping India’s strategic defense outlook in the coming years.