West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Saturday said railway projects worth nearly 1 lakh crore will be implemented across the state in the coming years. The announcement came after a meeting with Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw at Nabanna.
Adhikari directed district magistrates to prepare timelines for handing over land needed for railway projects so that construction work can move ahead without delays. He said every district in West Bengal would be connected to the railway network through the planned projects.
"Every district of West Bengal will be linked through railway expansion. These projects will benefit common people and boost connectivity across the state," Adhikari said.
Addressing a joint press conference with Vaishnaw at Nabanna Sabhaghar before a meeting on various projects in the state, the Chief Minister alleged that railway development in the state had slowed down during the previous Trinamool Congress government because of frequent conflicts between the State and the Centre. He said now that a new government has formed, it will work closely with the Union Government to speed up infrastructure development.
"During the previous Trinamool Congress government, there was a 'war-war' situation between the state and the Centre. As a result, railway development in Bengal had come to a standstill. With the change in government, that problem will be resolved," he said.
The Rail Minister welcomed the State’s initiative and said, “The support of the state government, particularly in matters relating to land acquisition and clearances, will help us execute projects much faster. We are committed to expanding rail connectivity and completing ongoing projects in a time bound manner.”
The move is a part of broader effort to revive several railway projects that have faced delays due to land acquisitions and administrative issues. Earlier, the State government had also directed departments to hand over land required for dozens of stalled railway projects.
