PM Modi to open military commanders’ meet in city

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Kolkata on Sunday night to attend the Armed Forces’ Combined Commanders’ Conference (CCC), one of the largest gatherings of military leadership since “Operation Sindoor.” The three – day conference, scheduled from 15 to 17 September at the Eastern Command headquarters in Fort William, will focus on future strategies, border security, modernisation, and institutional reforms within the armed forces. Mr Modi is set to inaugurate the high-level meeting on Monday.

After landing at Kolkata airport late Sunday, Mr Modi headed to Raj Bhavan, where he will stay during his visit. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Anil Chauhan, the chiefs of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, as well as other top commanders, are expected to participate in the conference. Defence Ministry officials said the conference will take up issues ranging from institutional reforms to technological upgrades, with an emphasis on enhancing the pace and efficiency of military operations. “The idea is to ensure that the armed forces remain agile, modern, and fully prepared for future challenges,” a senior official said. The CCC is viewed as a significant forum for deliberation among the country’s top defence leaders.

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Its outcomes are meant to shape policy as well as operational priorities for the armed forces. Officials said discussions will also assess lessons from Operation Sindoor, India’s cross-border response after the Pahalgam terror attack. In that attack, militants killed 26 tourists in Jammu and Kashmir. India retaliated by striking terrorist camps inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, an operation hailed for its professionalism. The conference in Kolkata, officials said, will examine how to build on those lessons to prepare for future contingencies. The Defence Ministry said the conference will also explore ways to accelerate modernization of the armed forces, ensure coordination across services, and strengthen institutional decision-making.

Meanwhile, Kolkata Police announced extensive traffic restrictions to manage the prime minister’s visit and the high-security conference. Police Commissioner Manoj Verma said in a notification that the movement of goods vehicles would be barred across major city roads from 3:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday, and again from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday. Additionally, all roads surrounding Raj Bhavan will remain closed to goods traffic until 10 p.m. Sunday. Security in and around Fort William has been tightened, with key stretches sealed off to ensure smooth movement of VVIP convoys. Barricades were set up at multiple intersections, and police personnel were deployed in large numbers across central Kolkata.

The CCC has been held regularly to allow military commanders and the political leadership to review security and strategic challenges. In 2023, a similar conference was held in Bhopal, also inaugurated by Modi. Officials described the Kolkata edition as particularly significant given its timing in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor. The final day of the conference on Monday will be attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, NSA Ajit Doval, CDS Gen. Chauhan, and Defense Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, among others.