Del-Siliguri in 6 hrs on bullet train: Rail minister

Kolkata: Bengal is set to receive its first bullet train as part of an ambitious Rs 1 lakh crore rail infrastructure expansion announced by railways minister Ashwini Vaishnaw at a meeting with Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari on Saturday. The high-speed line will connect Delhi and Siliguri via Lucknow, Varanasi and Patna. It is designed to reduce travel time between the Capital and north Bengal from nearly 20 hours to just about six.

“A historic day for West Bengal’s infrastructure and growth. Today, I had a highly productive and landmark meeting with hon’ble Union minister of railways, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw,” CM Adhikari tweeted. The outcome of the meeting was more than significant: Over Rs 1 lakh crore railway projects aimed at connecting every district in Bengal to the railway map.

Another dedicated high-speed line will link Varanasi to Siliguri via Patna, eventually extending to Guwahati in Assam.

Adhikari, representing the month-old Bengal govt, promised a proactive approach to land acquisition, directing district magistrates to prepare a “calendar” of timelines for land handover, as the panacea of the long-standing land logjam and stalled projects. “We will provide full cooperation to expedite projects and ensure timely completion,” the CM said.