Sanchita Chatterjee, BS News Agency, Kolkata, February 2, 2026: Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting, and Electronics & Information Technology, , today addressed a press conference in Kolkata, where he interacted with media persons and outlined the Government of India’s extensive investments and future plans aimed at strengthening railway infrastructure, with special emphasis on West Bengal.
The Union Minister informed that a record allocation of ₹2.78 lakh crore has been made for the Railways in the Union Budget this year, reflecting the Government’s strong commitment to modernisation, safety, and expansion of rail connectivity across the country.
Highlighting transformative projects for , Shri Vaishnaw announced the proposed Varanasi–Siliguri High-Speed Rail (Bullet Train) Corridor, which is expected to reduce travel time to 2 hours and 55 minutes, with trains operating at speeds of up to 350 km per hour. The corridor will pass via Patna and is planned to be extended further up to , significantly boosting economic activity and regional connectivity in eastern and northeastern India.
The Minister also stated that the Vande Bharat Sleeper train service has already commenced between Guwahati and Howrah, enhancing long-distance passenger comfort and speed. In the freight sector, he highlighted the expansion of the Dedicated Freight Corridor, connecting Dankuni with Gujarat and covering States such as Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra, aiming at improving logistics efficiency and industrial growth.
Shri Vaishnaw added that 12 new trains have been started recently in West Bengal, while over 100 trains have already been introduced in the State in recent years. He also underlined the accelerated progress in Metro rail construction, stating that while only 27 km of Metro railway was built in Kolkata over the last 40 years prior to 2014, an additional 45 km has been constructed in just the last 11 years.
Referring to challenges in project execution, the Union Minister expressed concern over delays caused by continuous obstruction to Metro projects by the State Government, including issues at the Chingrighata stretch, even after Court interventions.
Besides, Shri Vaishnaw announced that 17 new railway projects have been sanctioned for West Bengal, with a total allocation of ₹14,205 crore, underscoring the Centre’s focus on the State, which remains heavily dependent on railways for passenger and freight movement.
The press conference reaffirmed the Union Government’s resolve to transform railway infrastructure in West Bengal through sustained investment, high-speed connectivity, enhanced freight movement, and rapid urban transit development, positioning the State as a key hub in India’s rail-led growth story.