RAIL PROJECTS WORTH RS 92,000 CRORE UNDERWAY IN WEST BENGAL: UNION MINISTER
New Delhi, Feb 09, 2026 : Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw on Sunday inaugurated the Siuri Road Over Bridge, dedicated the Kumarpur Road Over Bridge to the nation, and flagged off the new Asansol–Bokaro Steel City train service through video conferencing, marking a significant expansion of rail infrastructure in West Bengal.
Addressing the event, the Union Minister said the projects are a major step towards strengthening rail infrastructure, enhancing safety, and improving regional connectivity in West Bengal and neighbouring areas. He said the state has received a record allocation of Rs 14,205 crore for railways in the current year, which is more than three times the average allocation during 2009–2014. He added that railway projects worth around Rs 92,000 crore are currently underway in the state, aimed at driving large-scale infrastructure transformation.
Vaishnaw said that in recent times, several new train services have been introduced to improve rail connectivity for the people of West Bengal, including the launch of the first Vande Bharat Sleeper train from the state. He said these initiatives reflect the ‘Purvoday’ vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, focused on the development of eastern India.
The Union Minister also said that the first bullet train project for West Bengal has been announced in the current Rail Budget, with Siliguri as its starting point. He added that the Prime Minister has approved an East–West freight corridor connecting West Bengal with Gujarat. In addition, an underground rail corridor is being planned in the strategic Chicken’s Neck region of North Bengal to ensure safe and secure transportation.
The newly constructed Siuri Road Over Bridge, built in lieu of Level Crossing No. 22B/T near Siuri railway station at a cost of Rs 42 crore, is expected to significantly reduce congestion and waiting time at the crossing. The bridge will improve safety, ensure smoother movement for daily commuters, and allow uninterrupted passage for emergency vehicles.
The Kumarpur Road Over Bridge, constructed at a cost of Rs 55 crore in lieu of Level Crossing No. 1Spl/E between Barachak and Hirapur Yard Line, is located on the busy GT Road corridor. The bridge will serve as a key link between Asansol city, Paschim Bardhaman district and Jharkhand, facilitating smoother movement of traffic and trade while easing congestion in the area.
On the same occasion, the new Asansol–Bokaro Steel City MEMU passenger train was flagged off, enhancing connectivity between two major steel hubs of the country. The service will benefit industrial workers, daily commuters and local residents, while improving both intra-state and inter-state mobility. The regular run of train numbers 63592/63591 will commence from February 10, 2026.