Parliament Question: Railway Projects in West Bengal

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2987 TO BE ANSWERED ON 17.12.2025 RAILWAY PROJECTS IN WEST BENGAL †2987. SHRI JYOTIRMAY SINGH MAHATO : Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state: (a) whether it is a fact that many important railway projects across West Bengal, including Purulia, have been pending for years simply due to the administrative apathy of the State Government, non-issuance of necessary NOC, non-availability of land and unnecessary delay in various approvals, while the Central Government has been continuously trying to push these projects forward and if so, the details thereof; (b) whether the Government has a detailed list of such projects where land transfer could not be started and construction work is stalled due to the inaction of the State Government and if so, the details thereof: (c) whether the Government proposes fixing accountability of the State Government or resolving the delays through a special coordination mechanism to move forward these stalled projects and if so, the details thereof; and (d) whether it is a fact that continuous delays on part of the State Government are seriously affecting passenger safety, regional connectivity and overall development and if so, the details thereof? ANSWER MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW) (a) to (d): Execution of important infrastructure projects falling fully/partly in the State of West Bengal including Purulia are held up due to delay in land acquisition. Status of land acquisition in West Bengal is as under: Contd…2/--2- Total Land required 4,564 Ha Land Acquired 1,250 Ha (27%) Balance Land to be acquired 3,314 Ha (73%) Details of some major projects which are delayed due to land acquisition are as under: SN Name of the project Total Land Balance Amount land acquired Land to Paid to required (in Ha) be State (in Ha) acquired (in Cr.) (in Ha) 1. Chandil- Purulia - 8.15 0 8.15 0 Anara- Burnpur - 3rd line 2. Nabadwipghat- 106.71 0 106.71 50 Nabadwipdham new line 3. Byepass at Sainthia 22.28 0 22.28 0 4. Naihati – Ranaghat 13.33 0 13.33 1.3 3rd line 5. Sivok-Rangpo new 134.62 127.54 7.08 7.98 line 6. Kaliyaganj-Buniadpur 167.804 0 167.804 0 new line 7. Canning- Bagankhali 18.36 0 18.36 0 new line 8. Adra- Sanka- Rukni 5.14 0 5.14 0 doubling Contd…3/--3- 9. Kalipahari- 14.55 0 14.55 0 Bakhtarnagar 5th line 10. Rail Flyover at Anara 34.90 0 34.90 0 from Rukni to Anara station 11. Rail Flyover at 34.12 0 34.12 0 Gourinathdham end to Purulia 12. Chandanpur 5 0 5 0 Shaktigarh 4th Line Further, Tarakeswar - Bishnupur (83 Km) New Line project is held up due to law and order issues in Goghat-Kamarpukur section falling in Hooghly district. The work was stopped by local villagers in about 900m length near Bhabadighi Pond. The work is held up since 2016. Deshpran -Nandigram (18.5 km) Line was sanctioned in 2009-10 at cost of ₹ 121.44 crores. The entire Project length is located in East Midnapore District. The project could not progress due to problems in land acquisition and was kept in abeyance. In April 2023 it was decided to re- start the work. However, Survey for Land Acquisition from Deshpran to 5.0 Km could not be completed due to law and order issues. As Deshpran is the connecting station, acquisition of this land is essential for commissioning of this project. Several meetings have been held with officials of Government of West Bengal for land acquisition for the above projects. Government of India is geared up to execute projects, however success depends upon the support of Government of West Bengal. Contd…4/--4- Kolkata Metro: Metro project in Kolkata started in 1972. The details of the Metro commissioned since then are as under: Period Metro Commissioned 1972 to 2014 ( 42 years) 28 km 2014 to 2025 ( 11 years) 45 km Presently, 4 metro corridors of total 52 km are under construction in and around Kolkata out of which 20 Km is held up due to land acquisition and utility shifting issues pertaining to State Government. The status of these corridors is as given below: (i) Joka–Esplanade (14 km):- Joka-Majerhat (7.74 km) has been commissioned and balance work from Majerhat to Esplanade (6.62 km) has been taken up. However, progress of the work is affected due to the following issues: S.No. Location Issues 1. Khidderpur 1. 837 square meter permanent and 1702 sq.m. Metro Station temporary land of Kolkata Armed Police (KAP) was required for utility shifting and road traffic diversion for which proposal was sent to State Government on 24.08.2020. 2. Multiple meetings with officials of Government of West Bengal (GoWB) were held. 3. State Government finally accorded approval on 09.07.2025 after almost 5 years. Contd…5/--5- 2. Dr. B.C. Roy 1. For construction of Esplanade Metro Station, Market temporary shifting of unauthorised 528 Shops at B.C. Roy Market on Defence land was required. The proposal for NOC of temporary shifting of market was submitted in February, 2022. 2. Shops for temporary shifting were also constructed. 3. The State Government has been requested to facilitate shifting. Regular coordination with PWD is being done also, a meeting was held with Hon’ble Mayor of Kolkata on 30.07.2025. 4. Issue is pending for more than 3.5 years. (ii) New Garia - Dum Dum Airport (32 km): New Garia – Belaghata (9.8 km) has been commissioned and balance work from Belaghata to Dum Dum Airport (22.2 km) has been taken up. However, progress of the work is affected due to the following issues: S.No Location Issues . 1. Chingrighata 1. Temporary traffic diversion at Chingrighata Crossing crossing for launching of viaduct segments is (Between required for 3 + 3 nights (8 hours each) on Beleghata – each side of road alternately. The proposal Gour Kishore was submitted to Government of West Ghosh station) Bengal (GoWB) in February, 2025. Contd…6/--6- 2. The diversion road as desired by Kolkata traffic police has already been constructed in February, 2025. 3. Multiple meetings were held with various State Government and Kolkata police officials for NOC. 4. The NOC is still awaited even after about 10 months. (iii) Noapara – Barasat (18 km): Noapara- Jai Hind Airport (6.77 km) has been commissioned and work from Jai Hind Airport to Michael Nagar is in progress. However, work from New Barrackpore to Barasat (7.5 Km) is held up due to land acquisition and encroachment issues by State authorities. S.No. Location Issues 1. New 1. Land acquisition (23000 sq. m) and removal Barrackpore of heavy encroachments (1277 hutments, to Barasat 764 shops) are involved in this section. 2. The matter is not yet resolved by GoWB. (iv) Baranagar – Barrackpore - Dakshineshwar (14.5 km): Baranagar – Dakshineshwar (2 km) has been commissioned and balance work from Baranagar to Barrackpore (12.5 Km) is held up due to pending utility shifting in the alignment by state government authorities. S.No. Location Issues 1. Baranagar to 1. The original alignment along the B.T road Barrackpore was agreed in 2011 as per MoU between Metro Railway, RVNL and Kolkata Municipal Corporation. Contd…7/--7- 2. As per MoU, existing pipeline was to be replaced by new 64 inch pipeline by the State Government. 3. Shifting of 64 inch pipeline was completed in 2012. 4. Now, the State Government is insisting for construction of a new 90 inch pipeline costing about ₹1400 crore. 5. The demand is not covered under the cost of the project and MoU provisions. 6. NOC is still awaited from GoWB. West Bengal: Budget allocation in the recent years has increased significantly. Budget allocation for infrastructure projects and safety works, falling fully/partly in the State of West Bengal is as under:- Period Outlay 2009-14 Rs.4,380 Cr./year 2025-26 Rs. 13,955 Cr. (More than 3 times) As on 01.04.2025, 42 projects (12 New Lines, 04 Gauge Conversions and 26 Doubling), of total length of 4402 Km, costing ₹67,991 crore falling fully/partly in the State of West Bengal are sanctioned, out of which, 1702 km length has been commissioned and an expenditure of ₹23,410 crore has been incurred upto March, 2025. The summary is as under: Contd…8/--8- Category No. of Total Length Total Exp. upto projects Length Commissioned March, 2025 (in Km) till March, 2025 (Rs. in Cr.) (in Km) New Lines 12 1,032 337 11,368 Gauge Conversio 4 1,201 854 3,673 n Doubling/ Multi- 26 2,169 511 8,370 tracking Total 42 4,402 1,702 23,410 Details of some of the recently completed projects falling fully/partly in the State of West Bengal are as under: Cost S. No. Project (Rs. in Cr.) 1 Rampurhat-Mandarhill new line and Rampurhat- 1,500 Murarai 3rd line (159 Km) 2 Azimganj-Murshidabad new line (7 Km) 164 3 Bardhaman-Katwa Gauge Conversion (52 Km) 696 4 Ahmedpur-Katwa Gauge Conversion (52 Km) 440 5 Panskura Kharagpur Doubling (45 Km) 408 6 Lalgola – Jiaganj Doubling (23 Km) 124 Contd…9/--9- 7 Krishnanagar-Bethuadahari Doubling (28 Km) 152 8 Nabadwipdham-Patuli Doubling (22 Km) 170 9 Bethuadhahari-Plassey Doubling (23 km) 132 10 Ambikakalna-Nabadwipdham Doubling (23 km) 145 11 Nalhati-Sagardighi Doubling (26 km) 193 12 Tamluk Jn.- Basulya Sutahata Doubling (24 km) 245 13 Plassey- Jiaganj Doubling (54 km) 234 14 Azimganj-Manigram Doubling (21 km) 150 15 New Coochbehar-Gumanihat Doubling (29 km) 330 16 New Coochbehar-Samuktala Road Doubling (29 km) 445 17 Sainthia-Tarapith 3rd line (22 Km) 186 18 Ambari Falakata-New Maynaguri Doubling (37 km) 843 19 Bandel-Boinchi - 3rd line (31 km) 546 20 Boinchi-Shaktigarh 3rd line (26 km) 424 21 Bazar Sau-Azimganj Jn. Doubling (42 km) 343 22 Sagardighi- Malda Town Doubling (25 Km) 248 23 Kharagpur-Narayangarh 3rd line (24 km) 270 24 Monigram-Nimtita Doubling (24 Km) 713 25 Purulia-Kotshila Doubling (36 Km) 393 Contd…10/--10- Some of the projects falling fully/partly in the State of West Bengal which have been taken up are as under: SN. Project Cost (Rs. in Cr.) 1 Chandil-Purulia-Anara-Damodar 3rd Line(121 Km) 1,932 2 Tarakeshwar-Bishnupur New Line (83 Km) 1,542 3 Sivok-Rangpo New Line (44 Km) 11,973 4 Balurghat-Hilli New Line (30 Km) 1,209 5 Kaliyaganj-Buniadpur New Line (33 Km) 1,147 6 Katihar-Kumedpur and Katihar-Mukuria Doubling 943 (65 Km) 7 Kharagpur-Adityapur 3rd line (132 Km) 3,250 8 Narayangarh-Bhadrak 3rd line (153 Km) 2,136 9 Kalipahari-Bakhtarnagar 5th Line (18Km) 350 10 Dankuni-Baltikuri 3rd & 4th line (18 Km) 429 11 Murarai-Barharwa 3rd Line (49 Km) 935 12 Ranaghat-Krishnanagar City 3rd Line (26 Km) 446 13 Aluabari Road-New Jalpaiguri 3rd & 4th Line (57 1,630 Km) During last three years (i.e. 2022-2023, 2023-24, 2024-25 and current Financial Year i.e. 2025-26), total 97 Nos. of Surveys (10 New Line, 87 Doubling) falling fully/partly in the State of West Bengal having a total length of 4,004 Km have been sanctioned. Contd…11/--11- Sanction of any railway project depend upon many parameters/factors which include the following:  Anticipated traffic projections and Remunerativeness of the proposed route  First and last mile connectivity provided by the project  Connection of missing links and providing additional route  Augmentation of congested/saturated lines  Demands raised by State Governments/Central Ministries/Public representatives,  Railway’s own operational requirements  Socio-economic considerations  Overall availability of funds Completion of Railway project/s depends on various factors which include the following:  Land acquisition by State Government  Forest clearance  Shifting of infringing utilities  Statutory clearances from various authorities  Geological and topographical conditions of area  Law and order situation in the area of project site  Number of working months in a year for particular project site etc. All these factors affect the completion time and cost of the project/s. *****