With the West Bengal Assembly elections drawing closer, political activity in the state has intensified. While the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) has stepped up its outreach through people-centric welfare projects, the central government has cleared a series of railway projects in the state— moves that are now being viewed through a political lens.
After the introduction of the country’s first Vande Bharat sleeper train service from Howrah station, the Centre has approved four new railway lines in West Bengal, all of which pass through areas considered strongholds of the Matua community— Hindu refugees from Bangladesh who have largely supported the BJP since the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. This has triggered debate in political circles over whether the BJP is using railway infrastructure development as a campaign tool ahead of the elections.
According to sources in the Railway Ministry, the newly approved projects, all in the India-Bangladesh border regions in Nadia and North 24 Parganas districts, include the Bongaon–Poramaheshtala line (20 km), Bongaon–Chanda Bazar (11.5 km), Chanda Bazar–Bagda (13.8 km), and Ranaghat (Aranghata)–Dattapulia (8.17 km). Officials have stated that the projects aim to improve connectivity in border regions close to Bangladesh, citing both development needs and national security concerns.
The timing of the approvals, however, has drawn attention. Discontent within the Matua community over the citizenship-related Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process has not fully subsided. The TMC has continued to target the BJP over the issue in recent weeks, keeping it alive in the pre-election discourse. Against this backdrop, the railway clearances are being seen as politically significant.
Notably, during the Thakur Bari fair last year, Bongaon MP Shantanu Thakur — also a member of the influential Thakur Bari family — had publicly promised the construction of these railway lines. With the projects now receiving official clearance, that assurance appears to be moving closer to implementation.
Political observers suggest that the Bharatiya Janata Party may be attempting to ease dissatisfaction among the Matua community by fast-tracking visible infrastructure projects in the region, especially in light of the lingering SIR controversy.
The Centre, meanwhile, has signalled urgency in execution. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has instructed the Railway Board and Eastern Railway authorities to ensure that the projects are completed within the stipulated timelines, stressing that delays will not be tolerated. According to the minister, the new lines will not only boost infrastructure development in the border districts of Bongaon and Nadia but also significantly improve transportation access for residents in the Matua belt.
As election-bound West Bengal witnesses parallel narratives of welfare politics and infrastructure announcements, political observers are closely watching whether this railway package will provide a boost to the saffron camp amid ongoing controversies.
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