The state government will launch three bus services and lay the foundation stone of a bus terminus in Nadia’s Krishnagar as a tribute to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on his 125th birth anniversary.

The decision comes ahead of the Assembly polls in Bengal and at a time when political parties, mainly the BJP and the Trinamul, are trying to appropriate the legacy of Netaji, whose birth anniversary will be observed on Saturday.

The Centre has decided to celebrate Netaji’s birth anniversary as “Parakram Diwas”, a move that has drawn criticism from the Left and Trinamul, which has been demanding that the day be observed as Deshprem Divas.

The Bengal government-run South Bengal State Transport Corporation (SBSTC) has come forward to dedicate three new bus services - between Siliguri and Mayapur, Tollygunge and Tarapith, and Tollygunge and Jhargram - in Netaji’s memory on January 23. “The Siliguri-Mayapur service has been named Netaji Express, Tollygunge-Tarapith service Azad Hind Express and the Tollygunge-Jhargram service Joy Hind Express,” said SBSTC managing director Godala Kiran Kumar.

The same day the foundation stone of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Bus Terminus in Krishnagar will be laid.

The foundation stone of the proposed terminus will be laid by the state correctional home services minister, Ujjwal Biswas. A statue of Netaji will be installed at the site during the programme. The statue will be unveiled by Trinamul MP Mahua Moitra.