Kolkata, July 24, 2026

 

In an answer to the unstarred question raised in the Rajya Sabha today, the Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting, and Electronics & Information Technology, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw stated that Budget allocation towards Railways in the recent years has increased significantly. Budget allotment of projects is made commensurate to the progress achieved in any project.

In fact, the question regarding the total land required, acquired and pending for all sanctioned railway projects in West Bengal as on date and specific hectarage of land acquired since May, 2026 and the status of land acquisition for projects where zero land has been handed over to Railways, including Nabadwipghat-Nabadwipdham, Kaliyaganj-Buniadpur, Naihati-Ranaghat 3rd line, Bypass at Sainthia, Canning-Bagankhali and rail flyovers at Anara and Gourinathdham, project-wise, besides the revised project completion timelines consequent upon land now being made available by the new State Government was raised today by MP, Shri Samik Bhattacharya.

In answer to Shri Bhattacharya’s question, Shri Vaishnaw stated, Budget allocation for infrastructure projects and safety works, falling fully/partly in the State of West Bengal is as under:

Period              Outlay

2009-14           Rs.4,380 Cr./year

2026-27           Rs. 14,205 Cr. (More than 3 times)

The Minister said, as on 01.04.2026, 63 projects (14 New Lines, 04 Gauge Conversions and 45 Doubling), covering a total length of 5,148 Km, costing ₹83,433 crore, falling fully/partly in West Bengal are sanctioned. The summary is as under:

As on 01.04.2026, 63 projects (14 New Lines, 04 Gauge Conversions and 45 Doubling), covering a total length of 5,148 Km, costing ₹83,433 crore, falling fully/partly in West Bengal are sanctioned.

Here are the details of the ongoing activities of the Ministry of Railways as furnished by Shri Vaishnaw today in the Rajya Sabha:

Recently Completed Projects:

Details of some of the recently completed projects falling fully/partly in the State of West Bengal are as under:

Sl. No.         Project                                                Cost

                                                                             (Rs. in Cr.)

1          Rampurhat-Mandarhill new line (130 Km)    908

2          Azimganj-Murshidabad new line (7 Km)       164

3          Bardhaman-Katwa Gauge Conversion (52 Km)        696

4          Ahmedpur-Katwa Gauge Conversion (52 Km)          440

5          Panskura Kharagpur Doubling (45 Km)                      408

6          Lalgola – Jiaganj Doubling (23 Km)  124

7          Krishnanagar-Bethuadahari Doubling (28 Km)         152

8          Nabadwipdham-Patuli Doubling (22 Km)     170

9          Bethuadhahari-Plassey Doubling (23 km)      132

10        Ambikakalna-Nabadwipdham Doubling (23 km)      145

11        Nalhati-Sagardighi Doubling (26 km)            193

12        Tamluk Jn.- Basulya Sutahata Doubling (24 km)       245

13        Plassey- Jiaganj Doubling (54 km)     234

14        Azimganj-Manigram Doubling (21 km)         150

15        New Coochbehar-Gumanihat Doubling (29 km)       330

16        New Coochbehar-Samuktala Road Doubling (29 km)           445

17        Sainthia-Tarapith 3rd line (22 Km)    186

18        Ambari Falakata-New Maynaguri Doubling (38 km)            843

19        Bandel-Boinchi - 3rd line (31 km)     546

20        Boinchi-Shaktigarh 3rd line (26 km)  424

21        Bazar Sau-Azimganj Jn. Doubling (42 km)   343

22        Sagardighi- Malda Town Doubling (25 Km)  248

23        Kharagpur-Narayangarh 3rd line (24 km)      270

24        Monigram-Nimtita Doubling (24 Km)           713

25        Purulia-Kotshila Doubling (36 Km)   393

Ongoing Projects:

Some of the projects falling fully/partly in the State of West Bengal which have been taken up are as under:

SN.                     Project                                             Cost

                                                                               (Rs. in Cr.)

1          Chandil- Damodar 3rd Line(121 Km)            1,932

2          Tarakeshwar-Bishnupur  New Line (83 Km) 1,542

3          Sivok-Rangpo New Line (44 Km)                 11,973

4          Balurghat-Hilli New Line (30 Km)               1,209

5          Kaliyaganj-Buniadpur New Line (33 Km)     1,147

6          Katihar-Kumedpur and Katihar-Mukuria Doubling (65 Km)            943

7          Kharagpur-Adityapur 3rd line (132 Km)        3,450

8          Narayangarh-Bhadrak 3rd line (153 Km)       3,425

9          Kalipahari-Bakhtarnagar 5th Line (18Km)    350

10        Dankuni-Baltikuri 3rd & 4th line (18 Km)     429

11        Murarai-Barharwa 3rd Line (49 Km) 935

12        Ranaghat-Krishnanagar City 3rd Line (26 Km)         446

13        Aluabari Road-New Jalpaiguri 3rd & 4th Line (57 Km)       1,630

14        Sainthia-Pakur 4th Line (81 Km)       1,569

15        Santragachi- Kharagpur 4th Line (111 Km)   2,905

16        Barbenda-Damrughutu Doubling, Damrughutu-Bokaro Steel City 3rd & 4th Line (52 Km)           815

17        Ranaghat-Bangaon doubling (33 Km)            396

18        Hijli to Nimpura Through yard 3rd line (6 Km)         234

19        Doubling of New Jalpaiguri- Siliguri (7 Km) 215

20        Thakurganj-Siliguri Doubling (56 Km)          916

21        Bypass line at Rampur hat (12 Km)   190

           

Land Acquisition Status:

Execution of important infrastructure projects falling fully/partly in the State of West Bengal were held up due to delay in land acquisition. Status of land acquisition in West Bengal is as under:

Total Land required                4,696 Ha

Land Acquired                   1,273 Ha (27%)

Balance Land to be acquired   3,423 Ha (73%)

Coordination with State Government:

In order to strengthen coordination for expeditious implementation of railway connectivity projects across state, monitoring progress of such projects & facilitating coordinated resolution of implementation issues, a task force has been constituted under chairmanship of Chief Secretary, West Bengal by Govt of West Bengal.

Chingrighata Matter:

Further, temporary diversion of traffic at Chingrighata crossing for launching of viaduct segments for construction of Kolkata Metro was permitted by state government in May-26 after almost 1.5 years since the request made. The work of Chingrighata crossing has finally been completed in May-26.

Completion of Railway projects/s depends on various factors which include the following:

•           Land acquisition by State Government

•           Forest clearance

•           Shifting of infringing utilities

•           Statutory clearances from various authorities

•           Geological and topographical conditions of area

•           Law and order situation in the area of project 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/Kol/24.7.26…..

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