West Bengal is witnessing a railway revolution as the Indian Railways embarks on an ambitious journey to enhance connectivity and infrastructure. With 43 ongoing projects, including new lines, gauge conversions, and track doubling, the state stands at the crossroads of development. 

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Friday (December 20) informed that as of April 1, 2024, a total of 43 projects (comprising 13 new lines, 4 gauge conversions, and 26 doubling projects) spanning a cumulative length of 4,479 km and costing Rs 60,168 crore are located fully or partly within the state of West Bengal. 

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These projects include those in the planning, approval, or construction stages. Of the total length, 1,655 km has been commissioned, with an expenditure of Rs 20,434 crore incurred up to March 2024. Spanning across Eastern Railway (ER), South Eastern Railway (SER), and Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) zones, the projects are part of a broader effort to bolster railway infrastructure nationwide.

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Ongoing railway projects in West Bengal

  • New Lines: 13 projects covering 1,087 km, of which 322 km are complete.
  • Gauge Conversions: 4 projects spanning 1,201 km, with 854 km commissioned.
  • Doubling/Multitracking: 26 projects totaling 2,192 km, 479 km completed.

Despite a threefold increase in annual fund allocation—from Rs 4,380 crore (2009-14) to Rs 13,941 crore in 2024-25—execution remains hindered by delays in land acquisition. Of the 3,040 hectares required for these projects, only 21% has been acquired, leaving a daunting 79% gap.

Key stalled projects

  1. Nabadwipghat-Nabadwipdham New Line (10 km): Only 0.17 hectares of the required 106.86 hectares acquired.
  2. Chandaneshwar-Jaleswar New Line (41 km): No progress on the 158 hectares needed.
  3. Naihati-Ranaghat Third Line (36 km): A mere 0.09 hectares out of 87.83 hectares secured.
  4. Balurghat-Hilli New Line (30 km): 67.38 hectares acquired, with 88 hectares pending.
  5. Bypasses at Sainthia (5 km) and Sitarampur (7 km): Only 2.22 hectares of 22.28 hectares acquired.

Additionally, the Ministry of Railways has introduced several measures to accelerate the execution of these projects. Key initiatives include the establishment of Gati Shakti units to streamline project implementation, prioritisation of high-impact projects, and delegation of decision-making powers to field officers. The Ministry is also ensuring close monitoring of project progress and maintaining regular coordination with state governments to address land acquisition challenges and expedite statutory clearances.