The new service is expected to benefit migrant workers, business communities, students and other passengers travelling between the five states. The programme was attended by West Bengal Minister Dilip Ghosh, Mayor Sunil Kothari, Member of Parliament Bidyut Baran Mahato, Member of Parliament Manju Sharma and other public representatives.
Railway Investment in Jharkhand and West Bengal
Ashwini Vaishnaw said the annual railway budget allocation for Jharkhand had increased from Rs 450 crore to Rs 7,500 crore, while projects worth approximately Rs 75,000 crore were underway in the state.Under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, 57 stations in Jharkhand are being redeveloped. Work has been completed at several stations, including Godda, Govindpur Road, Lohardaga, Madhupur and Muri.
Across the country, more than 1,300 stations have been taken up for redevelopment under the scheme. In West Bengal, redevelopment work is underway at stations including Santragachi, Jalpaiguri Road, Joychandi Pahar, Haldia and Kamakhyaguri.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said the state's annual average railway budget allocation had increased from Rs 4,380 crore during 2009–2014 to Rs 14,205 crore for 2026–27. He said the increased allocation would support railway infrastructure development and improve connectivity across the state.
Rail Line Expansion and Kolkata Metro Connectivity
Vaishnaw said work was underway to expand the railway corridor connecting Howrah, Kharagpur, Chakulia and Tatanagar to four lines.He also announced the completion of a 4.5-km section connected to the Beleghata-IT Centre stretch of Kolkata Metro, where trial runs have commenced. The section is expected to provide connectivity with the Green Line.
The railway minister said infrastructure development and station redevelopment were being undertaken to improve affordable transport access for middle-income and economically weaker households, alongside passengers across other income groups.
