Railway Ministry Approves Three Key Projects to Enhance Connectivity in West Bengal

Railway Ministry Approves Three Major Projects to Strengthen Connectivity in West Bengal

The Union Ministry of Railways has sanctioned three major rail projects aimed at enhancing connectivity across West Bengal, a day after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power in the state. The projects include the approval of a new long-distance express train, a survey for a new railway line, and a final location survey for the preparation of a detailed project report for a proposed third railway line.

Santragachi–Khatipura Express

One of the key projects approved by the Railway Ministry is the Santragachi–Khatipura Express, a newly approved long-distance express train connecting Santragachi Junction near Kolkata with Khatipura railway station near Jaipur, via Kharagpur junction and the South Eastern Railway route. This train will provide passengers from West Bengal, Jharkhand, and eastern India with a direct rail link to Jaipur/Rajasthan, reducing travel time by four to 10 hours as passengers will no longer have to change trains in Delhi or other junctions.

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The routing of the train via Kharagpur is strategically important, as it will cater to South Bengal and Jharkhand passengers, connect industrial zones such as Jamshedpur and Ranchi, and reduce congestion on the Howrah terminal. The train will be most useful for students from West Bengal and Jharkhand who are studying in Rajasthan, marble and textile traders, as well as tourists visiting Jaipur.

Comparison of Proposed Railway Projects

Naxalbari–Siliguri Railway Line

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The Union Ministry has also given approval to conduct a survey for a new railway line between Naxalbari and Siliguri. This project is for regional mobility in West Bengal with significant strategic importance. The Naxalbari–Siliguri railway line is a proposed 7.15km rail project in North Bengal under the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR). The railway line is expected to connect Naxalbari, a town near the India–Nepal border, to Siliguri, the economic and transport hub of North Bengal.

Currently, many people from Naxalbari, Bagdogra, Matigara, and nearby rural belts often depend on road transport, shared autos, buses, or indirect rail links via New Jalpaiguri Junction, which takes anything between 30 and 60 minutes depending on traffic congestion. A direct Naxalbari–Siliguri rail link could reduce daily travel costs, give office workers/students a faster commute, and reduce congestion on the Siliguri roads.

Shalbani–Adra Railway Line

The Union Ministry has also given the approval for the Final Location Survey (FLS) for preparation of the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the proposed third railway line between Shalbani and Adra. The Shalbani–Adra railway project is a proposed third railway line of about 107km in West Bengal. The route falls under the South Eastern Railway (SER) zone and is expected to strengthen the corridor connecting Shalbani in Paschim Medinipur district with Adra in Purulia district—one of eastern India’s important railway junctions.

There are already several railway tracks in this broader corridor, but traffic is heavy—especially because South Eastern Railway handles both passenger trains and large freight movement (coal, steel, minerals, industrial cargo). The proposed third line can help reduce congestion on several other lines. Most importantly, this corridor connects industrial and mining belts. Adra is a major railway division handling coal movement, mineral freight, and steel and power-sector cargo. Shalbani in Paschim Medinipur has seen industrial interest because of steel projects, manufacturing, and warehousing/logistics development.