The budgetary allocation for railways in West Bengal for the financial year 2024-2025 has been announced as Rs 13,810 crore, informed the railways minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw today. The amount is Rs 1,840 crore more than that of the last year’s fund allocation for various railway projects in the state.

Last year, West Bengal had received a budget allocation of Rs 11,970 crore, including those for the city Metro projects. This year, the amount of Rs 13,810 crore has again witnessed a boost which according to Mr Vaishnaw is a huge fund and many works could be done with the allocation.

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The railways minister pointed out that the work on Kolkata Metro Railway is progressing well. However, Mr Vaishnaw rued that several railway projects in the state are pending due to hurdles in land acquisition. The minister underscored his point citing railway projects in Nandigram and Delhi-Balurghat. “Several letters have been written to the state government while continuous follow ups are done but unfortunately what is wanted by all is not received. The funds were allocated as per the concept of ‘sabka sath sabka vikas,’ but work can be done only if efforts are made by all. If the state government rises above politics and supports the development of the railways, much work can be done.”

Echoing the assertions of the railway minister, the Eastern Railway’s chief administrative officer (construction), Pramod Kumar Mishra elaborated that crucial railway projects like Tarakeswar-Bishnupur, Nabadwip Dham-Nabadwip Ghat are getting delayed following land hurdles. According to Mr Mishra, a few years earlier also, more than 30-40 other railway projects in West Bengal had to be kept in abeyance due to similar land acquisition obstructions where support of the state was required. “Many projects would be sanctioned further. But, after the sanction if the required support is not available, the project would then be just on paper and the funds would not be spent properly. If the funds are spent incompletely, the benefits of the projects would not be accrued to the Indian Railways and the common people,” claimed the general manager of Eastern Railway Milind Kumar Deouskar.