Kolkata : Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister of Railways, Information and Broadcasting, Electronics and Information Technology hold a Press Conference on budgetary allocation for Railways in West Bengal and joined through Video Link with the media persons present at Eastern Railway Headquarters, Fairlie Place. In the press conference, Vaishnaw, Railway Minister, revealed that during the regime of government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, West Bengal is getting unprecedented budgetary allocation for West Bengal. In the current financial year, West Bengal has been allocated ₹ 13,941 crores for Railways in comparison to mere ₹ 4,380 crores of average allocation during the UPA government regime from 2009-2014.
Elaborating further, the Railway Minister has said that at present new projects with an investment of around ₹ 60,000 crores are continuing in West Bengal. A total of 100 Railway stations in West Bengal are in the process of development under ‘Amrit Bharat Station Scheme’. There will be no shortage of fund and adequate fund will be allocated for projects in West Bengal like doubling, new line, Metro projects etc, if lands are made available.
The Minister also urged the concerned state government to cooperate with Railways for execution of different development projects, in line of co-operative federalism.
A brief account of the development initiative through Railways in West Bengal is depicted below :
Budget Allocation :
Annual Average Budget Outlay:
2009-14: ₹ 4380 crores
2024-25: ₹ 13941 Crores
Commissioning during 2014-24 :
1,261 km new tracks
1,576 km electrification (158 km/annum i.e 5x of 32 km/annum during 2009-14)
443 rail flyovers & under-bridges constructed.
Ongoing projects (New tracks) : 43 projects; 4,479 km; ₹ 60,168 Cr.
100 stations will be developed as Amrit stations : Adra, Alipur duar Jn., Aluabari Road, Ambika kalna, Anara, Andal Jn., Andul, Asansol Jn., Azimganj, Bagnan, Bally, Balurghat, Bandel Jn., Bangaon Jn., Bankura, Barabhum, Barasat, Barddhaman, Barrackpore, Belda, Berhampore court, Bethuadahari, Bhaluka Road, Binnaguri, Bishnupur, Bolpur Shantiniketan, Burnpur, Canning, Chandan nagar, Chandpara, Chandrakona Road, Dalgaon, Dalkhola, Dankuni, Dhulian Ganga, Dhupguri, Digha, Dinhata, Dum Dum Jn., Falakata, Garbeta, Gede, Haldia, Haldibari, Harishchandrapur, Hasimara, Hijli, Howrah Jn, Jalpaiguri, Jalpaiguri Road, Jangipur Road, Jhalida, Jhargram, Joychandi Pahar Jn, Kaliyaganj, Kalyani, Kalyani Ghoshpara, Kamakhyaguri, Katwa Jn, Khagraghat Road, Kharagpur Jn, Kolkata, Krishnanagar City Jn, Kumedpur Jn, Madhukunda, Madhyamgram, Malda Court, Malda Town, Mecheda, Medinipur (Midnapore), Nabadwip Dham, Naihati Jn, New Alipurduar, New Cooch Behar, New Farakka Jn, New Jalpaiguri Jn, New Mal Jn, Ondagram, Panagarh, Pandabeswar, Panskura Jn, Purulia Jn, Rampurhat Jn, Sainthia Jn, Salboni, Samsi, Santragachi, Sealdah, Shalimar, Shantipur, Sheoraphuli Jn., Siliguri Jn., Sitarampur, Siuri, Sonarpur Jn., Suisa, Tamluk, Tarakeswar, Tulin, Uluberia.
Milind K Deouskar, General Manager, Eastern Railway also briefed the media people in this occasion about different development initiatives of railways over West Bengal in general and Eastern Railway in particular.
Elaborating different projects, he mentioned that cooperation from the State Government has been expected towards solving land acquisition problem for completion of various projects, specially approach road of Road Over Bridges at various stations where the level crossing gates needs to be replaced.
Regarding Tarakeswar – Bishnupur new line project Deouskar said that our officials are in regular touch with the competent authority of state government officials and major portion of the project has already been completed. A small portion near Bhabadighi needs support of local administration which our Railway officials are continuously liaisioning.
Media persons also asked about the implementation of Kavach over Eastern Railway, General Manager ER replied that upto 200 km has been completed in Howrah – Pradhankhanta section, rest small portion is expected to be completed by November 2024.
