Kolkata, July 25, 2025

In a written reply to the unstarred question raised in the Rajya Sabha by MP Shri Prakash Chik Baraik today on the progress on the New Maynaguri-Madarihat-Hasimara line project, the amount of funds allocated in 2024-25 for gauge conversion and station upgrades in North Bengal and the expected commissioning date for enhanced passenger and freight services, the Railway Minister, Information & Broadcasting and Electronics and Information Technology, Shri Ashwini Vaishnav stated that, the gauge conversion of New Maynaguri – Madarihat - Hasimara has already been completed as a part of New Jalpaiguri – Siliguri - New Bongaigaon gauge conversion project.

The Union Minister added that Railway projects are surveyed/sanctioned/executed Zonal Railway wise and not State-wise/UT wise/District wise as the Railway projects may span across State/UT/District boundaries. Railway projects are sanctioned on the basis of remunerativeness, traffic projections, last mile connectivity, missing links and   alternate routes, augmentation of congested/saturated lines, demands raised by State Governments, Central Ministries, Members of Parliament, other public representatives, Railway’s own operational requirement, socio-economic considerations etc. depending upon the throw-forward of ongoing projects and overall availability of funds.

Shri Vaishnav reiterated that Railway infrastructure projects in the State of West Bengal are covered by Eastern Railway, South Eastern Railway and Northeast Frontier Railway Zones of Indian Railways. Zonal Railway wise details of Railway projects are made available in public domain on Indian Railway’s website. As on April 1, 2025, 42 projects (12 new lines, four gauge conversion and 26 doubling), of a total length of 4,402 km, costing ₹ 67,991 crore, falling fully/partly in West Bengal, are sanctioned, out of which 1,702 km length has been commissioned and an expenditure of ₹23,410 crore has been incurred up to March’ 2025.

According to the Minister, further, to improve the connectivity in North Bengal, following surveys has been sanctioned for preparing the Detailed Project Report (DPR):

 1. Thakurganj-Siliguri doubling (57 Km.)

2. Rampurhat-Dumka doubling (65 Km.)

3. Aluabari-New Jalpaiguri 3rd & 4th line (57 Km.)

4. Malda-Kumedpur 3rd & 4th line (61 Km.)

5. Pakur-Sainthia 4th line (84 Km.)

6. Andal-Sainthia 3rd & 4th line (79 Km.)

Completion of Railway project/s depends on various factors like quick land acquisition by State Government, forest clearance by officials of forest department, shifting of infringing utilities, statutory clearances from various authorities, geological and topographical conditions of area, law and order situation in the area of project/s site, number of working months in a year for particular project site etc. All these factors affect the completion time and cost of the project/s.

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SSS/25.7.25/…

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