Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw revealed plans for a high-speed bullet train corridor that will connect Delhi and Siliguri, significantly reducing travel time between the national capital and North Bengal.
Speaking on June 6, Vaishnaw said the proposed bullet train route would pass through key cities including Lucknow, Varanasi and Patna before reaching Siliguri.
“A bullet train project will come to West Bengal. It will connect Delhi and Siliguri via Lucknow, Varanasi and Patna. The journey will take only six hours by bullet train,” the Railway Minister said.
If implemented, the project would become one of the most significant transportation developments in eastern India, dramatically improving connectivity between North Bengal, eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and the national capital.
The announcement is expected to generate considerable interest in North Bengal, a region that serves as a strategic gateway to the Northeast and remains critical for trade, tourism and national security.
Centre Highlights Sharp Increase in Railway Funding
Alongside the bullet train announcement, Vaishnaw highlighted what he described as a significant increase in railway investment in West Bengal under the Narendra Modi government.
According to the minister, railway allocation for the state has increased substantially compared to the UPA era.
“The UPA government had allocated Rs 4,000 crore. Today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has allocated Rs 14,205 crore for the development of railways in West Bengal,” he said.
The minister argued that the enhanced funding has enabled faster implementation of railway infrastructure projects across the state and accelerated modernization efforts.
Vaishnaw Targets Previous State Government Over Delays
The Railway Minister also alleged that several railway projects faced delays due to lack of approvals from the previous state government.
According to him, numerous projects requiring only administrative clearances remained stalled for extended periods.
“Unfortunately, the previous state government did not grant permission for the work. In many cases, all that was required was administrative clearance. Some projects even went to court,” Vaishnaw said.
Kolkata Metro Expansion Gets Major Push
Highlighting progress in urban transport infrastructure, Vaishnaw said Kolkata Metro has witnessed rapid expansion under the Modi government.
According to the minister, 45 kilometres of metro lines have been completed in Kolkata during the last decade.
Drawing a comparison with previous governments, he stated that only 28 kilometres of metro work had been completed over the preceding 42 years.
“In 42 years, only 28 kilometres of metro work had been completed when an opposition government was in power here. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, 45 kilometres of metro lines have been completed in Kolkata,” he said.
The minister further announced that Kolkata would receive 60 next-generation metro rakes over the next five years, significantly expanding the city’s urban transit capacity.
The introduction of modern metro coaches is expected to improve passenger comfort, increase carrying capacity and support the growing commuter demand in the metropolitan region.
Bengal Receives Priority in New Train Projects
Vaishnaw also pointed to the introduction of premium railway services in West Bengal, claiming that the state received Vande Bharat Sleeper and Amrit Bharat trains ahead of several other parts of the country.
The minister suggested that additional railway projects and train services could be announced for the state in the future as part of the Centre’s broader infrastructure strategy.
The government’s focus, he said, remains on modernising railway services while strengthening regional connectivity.
Another major announcement concerned the East-West Dedicated Freight Corridor, which will connect Dankuni in West Bengal with Surat in Gujarat.
The freight corridor is expected to play a crucial role in enhancing cargo movement across the country, reducing logistics costs and improving supply-chain efficiency.
The proposed corridor could also provide a major boost to manufacturing hubs and industrial clusters located along the route.
Railway Electrification Completed
The Railway Minister stated that railway electrification work has been completed and indicated that additional trains, stations and infrastructure upgrades would be introduced in the coming years.
Electrification is considered a key component of Indian Railways’ modernisation programme, helping reduce operational costs, improve efficiency and lower carbon emissions.
The Centre has repeatedly highlighted railway electrification as one of the largest transformation projects undertaken by Indian Railways in recent decades.
MLAs Asked to Suggest Development Projects
In an unusual outreach initiative, Vaishnaw said legislators across West Bengal had been contacted and asked to identify development projects required in their constituencies.
According to the minister, railway officials are seeking direct inputs from elected representatives to ensure local priorities are incorporated into future infrastructure planning.
“All MLAs have been contacted by phone. They will inform us about the development work required in their respective constituencies,” he said.
The move is aimed at creating a constituency-level development roadmap and ensuring that infrastructure projects align with local requirements.
Focus on Long-Term Railway Infrastructure
Railway Ministry sources indicated that the broader objective behind the proposed projects is to strengthen West Bengal’s transportation network and integrate the state more closely with national logistics and passenger corridors.
With the bullet train corridor, metro expansion, freight corridor, increased funding and modern train services all being pursued simultaneously, West Bengal appears set to play a major role in the next phase of India’s railway modernisation programme.
While timelines and detailed project reports for the Delhi-Siliguri bullet train are yet to be announced, the proposal represents one of the most ambitious rail infrastructure plans unveiled for eastern India in recent years.
