In a meeting at the State Secretariat Nabanna today, Union Minister for Railways, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the induction of 60 new-generation Metro rakes to modernise the Kolkata Metro network over the next four-five years. He highlighted the rapid expansion of Kolkata Metro, noting that 45 km of lines have been added in 11 years, compared to only 27 km over the previous 40 years.
Highlighting the proposed East-West Dedicated Greenfield Freight Corridor from Dankuni, West Bengal to Surat, Gujarat, he said, the 2,052 km route is designed to supercharge logistics and trade efficiency between the Eastern and Western industrial hubs of India.
The Minister added that West Bengal has been provided a record railway budget allocation of ₹14,205 crores, which would boost passenger and logistics services in the days to come.
West Bengal Chief Minister, Shri Suvendu Adhikari lauded the pace in which the 34 metre Chingrighata viaduct Metro pillar gap construction work was completed. It was completed within 48 hours, he pointed out.
The meeting convened by Chief Minister was attended, by the Council of Ministers, West Bengal as well as the senior officers of Eastern Railway, South Eastern Railway & Metro Railway.
