December 21, 2024: The Ministry of Railways has acknowledged that delays in several key railway infrastructure projects across West Bengal are primarily due to land acquisition hurdles. Despite a substantial increase in funding, with the allocation rising from ₹4,380 crore during 2009-14 to ₹13,941 crore in 2024-25, the pace of project execution has been hindered. According to an official statement, the ministry has attributed the slow progress to challenges in securing land, a process managed by state governments.
As of April 1, 2024, there are 43 railway projects in West Bengal, spanning a total of 4,479 kilometers and estimated to cost ₹60,168 crore. These projects, which fall under the Eastern, South Eastern, and North East Frontier Railways, involve the construction of new lines and modernization efforts. Despite these ambitious plans, land acquisition remains a major bottleneck. Out of the 3,040 hectares required for these projects, only 640 hectares (21 percent) have been acquired, leaving 2,400 hectares (79 percent) still to be secured. This delay in land procurement has slowed down the progress of key initiatives.
Several important projects are experiencing significant setbacks due to the lack of land acquisition. For instance, the Nabadwipghat-Nabadwipdham new line (10 km), which requires 106.86 hectares, has only managed to acquire 0.17 hectares. Similarly, the Chandaneshwar-Jaleswar new line (41 km) needs 158 hectares but has not acquired any land to date. Other projects like the Naihati-Ranaghat third line (36 km) and the Balurghat-Hilli new line (30 km) are also facing similar challenges, with only a small portion of the required land secured.
The Railway Ministry has pointed out that while land acquisition is a major issue, other factors also contribute to the delays. These include the need for forest clearances, shifting of utilities, statutory clearances, and geological and topographical challenges. Furthermore, law and order situations and adverse climatic conditions, which limit the number of working months annually, also affect the pace of construction.
The Ministry emphasized that timely land acquisition by state governments is essential to overcoming these hurdles and ensuring the completion of vital railway infrastructure projects in West Bengal.