Indian Railways has recently issued multiple Gazette Notifications declaring key rail infrastructure works in West Bengal as Special Railway Projects, enabling land acquisition through the appointment of Competent Authority for Land Acquisition (CALA). The projects aim to significantly enhance rail capacity on busy routes across Purba Bardhaman and Birbhum districts.
The notifications mark an important step in expanding freight and passenger movement on high-density railway corridors in eastern India.
Key Railway Projects Covered Under Gazette Notifications
1. Chandanpur–Saktigarh 4th Line Project
District: Purba Bardhaman, West Bengal
Project Type: Fourth railway line
Purpose: Capacity augmentation on a heavily used section of the Howrah–Delhi corridor
Status: Declared a Special Railway Project for land acquisition
This section is critical for long-distance passenger trains and freight traffic, and the additional line is expected to ease congestion and improve punctuality.
2. Sainthia–Pakur 4th Line Project
District: Birbhum, West Bengal
Project Type: Fourth railway line
Purpose: Decongestion and capacity enhancement on the Howrah–Malda route
Status: Declared a Special Railway Project for land acquisition
The project will support increased coal, goods, and passenger traffic between West Bengal and Jharkhand.
3. Murarai–Barharwa 3rd Line Project
District: Birbhum, West Bengal
Project Type: Third railway line
Purpose: Strengthening freight corridors and reducing bottlenecks
Status: Declared a Special Railway Project for land acquisition
This line is strategically important for eastern freight movement and regional connectivity and part of Indian Railways’ broader push to modernise infrastructure and increase line capacity in high-traffic zones.
Once completed, the new lines are expected to:
Improve passenger train punctuality
Increase freight handling capacity
Support industrial and logistics growth
Reduce congestion on existing routes