Overview
- Four Eastern Railway new lines totaling over 53 km have been cleared in North 24 Parganas and Nadia: Bangaon–Poramaheshtala (20 km), Bangaon–Chandabazar (11.5 km), Chandabazar–Bagdah (13.8 km) and Ranaghat (Aranghata)–Duttapulia (8.17 km).
- South Eastern Railway has received sanction to start six new lines, including Kanthi–Egra (26.2 km), Nandkumar–Balaipanda (28 km), Nandigram–Kandiamari/Nayachar (7 km), Bowaichandi–Arambagh (31 km), Bowaichandi–Khana (24.4 km) and Bankura (Kalabati)–Purulia via Hura (65 km).
- Northeast Frontier Railway approvals cover six routes in North Bengal and the Northeast: Raiganj–Itahar (22.16 km), Gazole–Itahar (27.20 km), Itahar–Buniadpur (27.095 km), Chalsa–Naxal (19.85 km), Rajabhatkhawa–Jainti (15.13 km) and Raiganj–Dalkhola (43.43 km).
- Officials say the expanded network will strengthen connectivity near the India–Bangladesh border, enhance national security considerations and cut transport costs to support trade and agriculture.
- The Ranaghat–Duttapulia link is intended to provide first‑time rail access for Duttapulia residents, while several SER and NFR projects carry published cost estimates and one NFR segment through Buxa Tiger Reserve will proceed with environmental safeguards; start dates and implementation milestones are yet to be detailed.