Bullet train from Siliguri to Delhi -Railway Projects Discussed for North Bengal and Darjeeling Region

EOI, June 6, 2026, Guwahati: BJP MP from Darjeeling Raju Bista on Saturday said several major railway infrastructure projects for West Bengal, particularly north Bengal and the Darjeeling region, were discussed during a virtual coordination meeting chaired by the Chief Minister of West Bengal in the presence of Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.

Bista said the discussions focused on strengthening railway connectivity, expanding infrastructure and accelerating pending projects across the state.

The MP said that the Railway Minister highlighted the progress made in urban rail transport over the past decade. He noted that while 28 kilometres of the Kolkata Metro network were completed between 1972 and 2014, an additional 45 kilometres had been completed between 2014 and 2026.

Among the key projects discussed was the proposed high-speed rail corridor connecting Delhi, Lucknow, Varanasi, Patna and Siliguri. The proposed corridor was expected to reduce travel time between Delhi and Siliguri to around six hours.

The meeting also reviewed plans for the East-West Freight and Industrial Corridor linking Dankuni in the Hooghly district with Surat in Gujarat.

The Railway Minister announced plans to develop New Jalpaiguri as a major railway hub connecting the northeast with the rest of the country.

Discussions also focused on several pending Road Over Bridge and Road Under Bridge projects at railway crossings, which are considered important for improving safety and connectivity.

The meeting further reviewed issues related to land acquisition, no-objection certificates and other approvals required for railway expansion projects in the state.

Participants discussed measures to expedite clearances and ensure faster implementation of infrastructure works.

Another major topic was the proposed Bagdogra-Gulma bypass project. Since the planned railway alignment passed through densely populated areas, alternative routes are being explored to minimise displacement and local impact.

Bista said the Railways would undertake several capacity enhancement projects in the strategically important Siliguri Corridor, commonly known as the ‘Chicken's Neck’.

These include the construction of about 20 kilometres of underground railway tracks in critical sections, upgrading the Aluabari–NJP section to four railway lines, doubling the Thakurganj–Siliguri railway route and expediting the completion of the Siliguri–NJP doubling project.

Highlighting the strategic significance of the corridor, Bista said Prime Minister Narendra Modi was closely monitoring these projects to ensure their timely completion.

He said the proposed railway initiatives were expected to improve passenger and freight connectivity, strengthen logistics networks, support economic growth and enhance infrastructure in north Bengal and the northeast region in the coming years.