Archive · 8 Aug 2026
Centre revives 17 long-stalled railway projects across Bengal
The government of India has decided to start building new railway lines in the state of West Bengal, also known as Bengal.
These projects had been stopped for a long time.
They were paused because getting land for the tracks was hard, there were safety troubles, and the earlier state government did not cooperate.
The railway minister said the projects are starting again because people really wanted them.
There are 17 projects in total.
Eleven of them are in the southern part of the state, and six are in the northern part.
When finished, they will add 423 kilometres of new railway track.
Trains are important because they help people travel and carry goods from place to place.
The minister also said work is already happening on some other railway routes in the region.
The Union railway ministry has decided to take up 17 railway projects across Bengal that were earlier paused over land acquisition issues, law and order problems, and non-cooperation by the erstwhile Trinamool Congress state government.
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the revival while replying to a question from BJP MP Biswajit (Rahul) Sinha, saying the projects were taken up again 'in view of public demand.'
Eleven of the projects are in south Bengal, including Prantik–Siuri, Bangaon–Poramaheshtala, Kanthi–Egra, Nandigram–Kandiamari (Nayachar), Bowaichandi–Arambagh, and Bankura (Kalabati)–Purulia via Hura.
The remaining six projects are in north Bengal — Raiganj–Itahar, Gazole–Itahar, Itahar–Buniadpur, Chalsa–Naxal, Rajabhatkhawa–Jaintia, and Raiganj–Dalkhola — aimed at improving regional connectivity.
The 17 projects together cover 423km of new lines, while new-line work is also in progress on the Sivok–Rangpo, Tarakeshwar–Bishnupur, and Balurghat–Hili routes.
- Who
- Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, replying to a question from BJP MP Biswajit (Rahul) Sinha.
- What
- The Union railway ministry decided to take up 17 long-stalled railway projects across Bengal, covering a total of 423km of new lines.
- When
- The articles do not specify a date; the decision was announced in a recent parliamentary reply.
- Where
- Across Bengal (West Bengal), India — 11 projects in south Bengal and 6 in north Bengal.
- Why
- The projects were revived 'in view of public demand' after being stalled due to land acquisition issues, law and order problems, and non-cooperation by the erstwhile Trinamool Congress state government.
- Number of projects
- 17 railway projects
- Total new line length
- 423 km
- Projects in south Bengal
- 11
- Projects in north Bengal
- 6
- Announced by
- Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Railway Minister
- Reason for revival
- In view of public demand
- Earlier reasons for stalling
- Land acquisition issues, law and order problems, non-cooperation by erstwhile Trinamool Congress state government
- Routes with work in progress
- Sivok–Rangpo, Tarakeshwar–Bishnupur, Balurghat–Hili