60 New Metro Rakes for Kolkata as Ashwini Vaishnaw Unveils Major Rail Modernisation Push

Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that 60 new-generation Metro rakes will be inducted into the Kolkata Metro network over the next four to five years as part of a major modernization drive. The announcement was made during a meeting at Nabanna, the West Bengal State Secretariat, attended by senior state government officials and railway authorities.

Highlighting the rapid expansion of the Kolkata Metro system, Vaishnaw said that 45 kilometres of metro lines have been added in the last 11 years, compared to just 27 kilometres constructed during the previous four decades. He noted that the expansion reflects the Centre’s commitment to strengthening urban transportation infrastructure in the city.

The Railway Minister also spoke about the proposed East-West Dedicated Greenfield Freight Corridor connecting Dankuni in West Bengal with Surat in Gujarat. The 2,052-kilometre corridor is expected to significantly enhance logistics efficiency and strengthen trade connectivity between the industrial hubs of eastern and western India. According to Vaishnaw, the project will play a key role in reducing transportation costs, improving freight movement, and boosting economic growth.

He further stated that West Bengal has received a record railway budget allocation of ₹14,205 crore, which will support the development of railway infrastructure and improve both passenger and freight services across the state.

During the meeting, West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari praised the speedy completion of a critical section of metro infrastructure at Chingrighata. He highlighted that the construction of a challenging 34-metre viaduct pillar gap was successfully completed within 48 hours, demonstrating the efficiency and technical capability of the project teams.

The meeting, convened by the Chief Minister, was attended by members of the West Bengal Council of Ministers as well as senior officials from Eastern Railway, South Eastern Railway, and Metro Railway. Discussions focused on ongoing railway and metro projects, future infrastructure plans, and measures to strengthen connectivity and transportation services in the state.

The announcements are expected to give a significant boost to Kolkata’s urban transit network while also enhancing freight connectivity between major industrial regions of the country.