Prime Minister Narendra Modi has pledged to introduce a bullet train service connecting Bengal, marking a major boost to the state’s railway infrastructure. Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the initiative during a high-level meeting at Nabanna, the state secretariat, on Saturday.
Addressing the media, Vaishnaw said that the proposed high-speed rail corridor will connect Siliguri with major cities including Delhi, Lucknow, Varanasi, and Patna. “A decision has been taken to introduce a bullet train for the state. The journey will take approximately six hours and offer a comfortable travel experience,” he stated.
The minister also announced that 60 new-generation metro trains will be inducted into the Kolkata Metro network over the next four to five years, significantly enhancing urban transport capacity.
Vaishnaw arrived in Kolkata earlier in the day and made a notable public outreach by travelling via the metro and interacting with passengers. He also took an auto-rickshaw ride after departing from Dum Dum Airport. He was accompanied by state minister Jagannath Chattopadhyay and Purulia MP Jyotirmoy Singh Mahato.
Following the meeting, both the Chief Minister and the Railway Minister jointly outlined a series of upcoming railway initiatives for the state. Vaishnaw confirmed that groundwork for the bullet train project would begin soon, emphasising that administrative and political hurdles have largely been cleared, with elected representatives extending their support.
Highlighting broader infrastructure plans, the Railway Minister announced that the Centre will invest Rs 1 lakh crore to transform the railway network in Bengal. As part of this initiative, 102 stations across the state will be redeveloped under the ‘Amrit Bharat’ scheme, with renovation work already completed at 10 stations.
To address chronic traffic congestion caused by level crossings, the government plans to construct 538 underpasses and flyovers across suburban and semi-urban regions.
Drawing comparisons with previous allocations, Vaishnaw stated that during the UPA government (2009–2013), Bengal received Rs 4,380 crore for railway development. In contrast, a record Rs 14,025 crore has been allocated for the state in the 2026–27 financial year alone under the current administration.
In a significant administrative breakthrough, it was revealed that within one month of assuming office, the state government issued ‘No Objection Certificates’ (NOCs) for over 40 previously stalled railway projects.
The Chief Minister acknowledged that earlier delays in railway development were largely due to land acquisition challenges and lack of coordination between the state and the Centre. He said that these obstacles are now being systematically addressed.
To expedite pending projects, the Chief Minister has directed District Magistrates across Bengal to adhere to a strict, time-bound calendar for resolving land-related issues. Officials have been instructed to set clear targets and ensure swift completion of necessary processes.
The Centre also assured the introduction of new railway stations and additional train services in the near future. Meanwhile, the Chief Minister urged the Union government to extend similar focus to the information technology sector in the state.
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