Railways clears new train and key rail projects for West Bengal after Suvendu Adhikari takes office
The Statesman | 15 May 2026
Days after the BJP formed a government in West Bengal under Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed the state government about the approval of multiple railway projects, including a new Kolkata-Jaipur train service, a survey for a third rail line between Shalimar and Ayodhya, and doubling work on the New Jalpaiguri-Siliguri corridor.
The approvals were conveyed through separate letters addressed to Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari by the Railway Ministry. The developments are being seen as an early infrastructure push for the new BJP government in the state, with a focus on improving connectivity across south and north Bengal.
According to one of the letters, the Railways has sanctioned a new train service between Kolkata’s Santragachi and Jaipur’s Khatipura via Kharagpur. The communication stated that train numbers 18061 and 18062 Santragachi-Banaripara Express via Kharagpur had been approved following discussions on strengthening railway connectivity.
In another letter, Vaishnaw informed Adhikari that approval had been granted for conducting the Final Location Survey to prepare the Detailed Project Report for a proposed third railway line between Shalimar and Ayodhya.
The proposed stretch covers around 107 km and is expected to form part of future rail expansion plans in West Bengal. The survey is considered a preliminary but significant step before the execution of the project.
The Railway Minister also confirmed approval for doubling work on the New Jalpaiguri-Siliguri rail line in north Bengal.
The project covers a stretch of around 7.15 km and is aimed at easing congestion and improving train movement in one of eastern India’s busiest rail corridors. The NJP-Siliguri section is strategically important for rail traffic connecting the Northeast and north Bengal regions.
All three letters referred to earlier discussions held regarding railway infrastructure and connectivity projects in West Bengal.
The communications were sent directly to the Chief Minister at his office in Nandigram, East Midnapore.