Bengal gets connectivity boost with new Aluabari Rd–NJP line
The Statesman | 1 August 2025
West Bengal today got a connectivity boost as the cabinet approved railway projects worth over Rs 1,700 crore today.
The approval was given by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The committee today approved four crucial railway projects with a total cost of about Rs 11,169 crore, including the two lines in north Bengal. The approved projects would span over 13 districts in the states of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, and Jharkhand are planned to increase the existing network of Indian Railways by about 574 Km.
According to the information received from the railways, The Aluabari Road – New Jalpaiguri third and fourth railway line project to be executed at an estimated cost of Rs 1,786 crore. The two new approved railway lines including seven stations, 99 bridges, three road over bridges and eight road under bridges, are to be done as a part of the PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan and fall under the Delhi – Guwahati High Density Network route.
The project, as learnt from the railways is aimed at focussing on enhancing multi-modal connectivity and logistic efficiency through integrated planning and stakeholder consultations. These projects are anticipated to provide seamless connectivity for movement of people, goods, and services.
Being closer to the international border of three neighbouring countries namely Bhutan, Bangladesh and Nepal, the third and fourth railway line of the Aluabari Road – New Jalpaiguri route would in particular enable vital connectivity to Northeastern states. With the commissioning of the two railway lines, districts of Jalpaiguri, Darjeeling and Uttar Dinajpur in West Bengal along with Kishanganj in Bihar are to be benefitted.
The newly approved lines would span over 56.7 km route length and 121 km track length and would facilitate 21.6-million-ton additional cargo and save Rs 2,551 crore in logistics cost. Moreover, the project is anticipated to save 2.14 crore litre diesel every year and 114 crore kg of carbon dioxide.