West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has established a special task force involving representatives from state government departments and Indian Railways to accelerate pending railway projects in the state. The task force, led by West Bengal Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Agarwal, comprises senior officials from departments like Home, Transport, Land, and Revenue.
Additionally, the task force includes representatives from Eastern Rail, South-Eastern Rail, Northeast Frontier Rail, Metro Rail, and Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL). A total of 20 members will be part of this task force, as per a state secretariat insider.
The decision to create this task force stems from a recent meeting between Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Chief Minister Adhikari in Kolkata. Following the meeting, CM Adhikari revealed plans for Indian Railways to execute railway infrastructure projects worth Rs 1,00,000 crore to enhance connectivity across all districts in the state.
Furthermore, CM Adhikari criticized the previous state government for its confrontational stance with the Union government, resulting in delays in railway projects. He emphasized the collaborative efforts between the state government and Indian Railways to expedite the implementation of railway infrastructure projects.
The formation of this task force signifies the Chief Minister’s dedication to fast-tracking the completion of pending railway projects in West Bengal. Railways Minister Vaishnaw also disclosed plans for a bullet train service from New Delhi to Siliguri in North Bengal, passing through Lucknow, Varanasi, and Patna, with a travel time of six hours. Moreover, the introduction of 60 new train services in the state within the next five years was announced.
