Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw will visit West Bengal on Saturday, June 6, 2026. He is scheduled to hold a high-level meeting with Chief Minister Shubhendu Adhikari at Nabanna, the state secretariat. The primary goal of this meeting is to review and speed up railway projects that are currently stuck in the state.
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Which new railway projects were approved for West Bengal?
The Railway Ministry approved three new projects on May 15, 2026. These include the Final Location Survey (FLS) and Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the Shalbani-Adra third rail line. Other approvals include the doubling of the rail line from New Jalpaiguri to Siliguri for 7.15 km and the introduction of a new express train between Santragachi and Jaipur.
What are the key issues to be discussed in the meeting?
The meeting will focus on land acquisition and pending projects. Chief Minister Shubhendu Adhikari previously mentioned that 61 projects are pending, including those near the India-Bangladesh border in Hili and in Nandigram. The lack of rail and highway connectivity, which led to the Adani Group withdrawing from the Tajpur deep-sea port project, may also be a point of discussion.
Who will attend the high-level review meeting?
Apart from the Railway Minister and the Chief Minister, the meeting will see participation from the General Managers of Eastern Railway, South Eastern Railway, Northeast Frontier Railway, and Metro Railway. Members of the standing committee on railways will also be present to coordinate the execution of these projects.
| Project Name | Details/Status |
|---|---|
| Shalbani-Adra Line | Third line FLS and DPR approved |
| NJP to Siliguri | Doubling of 7.15 km track |
| Santragachi-Jaipur | New express train to be launched |
| Digha to Tajpur | Survey for 7.15 km line approved |
| Kanthi to Jhargram | Feasibility study approved |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the date of the meeting between the Railway Minister and West Bengal CM?
The meeting is scheduled for Saturday, June 6, 2026, at Nabanna (State Secretariat) to discuss pending railway works.
Which specific rail lines are under survey or study in West Bengal?
The survey for the Digha to Tajpur line (7.15 km) and a feasibility study for the Kanthi to Jhargram new rail line have been approved.