Massive Railway Boost For Bengal As Centre Approves ₹14,000 Crore Investment
The Centre has committed to increasing railway investments across West Bengal, announcing a significant jump in funding and new railway projects. The announcement, made during the Udyami Sammelan Mela 2025 in Kolkata, includes corridor upgrades, new train services, and modernisation plans aimed at improving passenger experience, regional connectivity, and industrial cargo movement across the state.
The Centre has raised the railway budget for Bengal from ₹3,000 crore under earlier regimes to around ₹14,000 crore now, as part of a broader plan to modernise rail networks and support small enterprises. Key projects include the development of the New Jalpaiguri-Kolkata rail corridor, upgradation of the chicken neck corridor to four lines, and improved cargo infrastructure via Gati Shakti terminals to boost regional economic growth.
The new Purulia-Bankura-Howrah MEMU train service, launched virtually from Santragachi, is expected to enhance regional connectivity across Bardhaman, Purulia, and Bankura districts. Authorities say the train service will significantly ease daily commuting and support rural and local economies. The government also highlighted infrastructure growth such as adding 35,000 km of new railway tracks and 35,000 wagons over the past decade, reflecting the overall expansion across the national network.
Bengal’s urban rail infrastructure also saw progress, with 41 km added to the Kolkata Metro between 2014 and 2025—compared to only 28 km in the previous four decades. Challenges remain in acquiring land and managing traffic permissions, especially in areas like Kidderpore and Chingrighata. Authorities have urged state cooperation to accelerate progress on metro and rail expansion projects vital to the state’s future development.
Meanwhile, the redevelopment of Santragachi station under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme is being positioned as a benchmark project. Designed to handle over 50,000 daily passengers by 2063, the station will feature green infrastructure and better amenities. The Centre reiterated its aim to build a modern, passenger-friendly railway system in Bengal, promoting not just mobility, but sustainable urban growth and economic resilience through enhanced transport infrastructure.
With a fourfold increase in railway funding, fresh corridor upgrades, and station redevelopment underway, West Bengal is set to witness a new era of railway modernisation. Authorities emphasise that rail infrastructure is not just about connectivity—it is central to regional progress, industry support, and daily convenience. Collaboration between the Centre and state will be critical to unlocking Bengal’s rail potential.
