Indian Railways has launched a special train service between Rajgir and Howrah to manage the expected rise in passenger traffic during the religious fair and summer holiday season. According to Patna Press, train number 03029 Howrah–Rajgir Special will depart from Howrah Junction at 10.50pm on Saturday and reach Rajgir at 1pm the following day, after passing through several stations including Kiul, Abhaypur, Jamalpur, Bhagalpur, Sahibganj, Pakur and Rampurhat. On the return journey, train number 03030 Rajgir–Howrah Special will leave Rajgir at 2pm on Sunday and arrive at Howrah at around 4.30am the next day. Chief Public Relations Officer Saraswati Chandra confirmed that the special train will halt at several stations and will have a total of 14 coaches, including eight general coaches, two sleeper coaches, and two SLR coaches attached at both ends.
Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw approved the launch of Train No. 18061/18062, the Santragachi-Khatipura Express, between Kolkata (Santragachi) and Jaipur (Khatipura) via Kharagpur. According to reports from Zee News, the new train will serve thousands of workers who travel from Bengal to Rajasthan in search of jobs, reducing burden on existing trains and enabling comfortable passenger journeys. The approval comes after the Union Cabinet had earlier approved the Santragachi-Kharagpur 4th Line on March 10, enabling faster movement of passenger and freight trains while boosting connectivity to key economic hubs and ports in West Bengal. The route remains one of the busiest long-distance corridors for workers, students, and business travellers, with a large number of people from Bengal travelling to Rajasthan every year for employment and commercial activities, often facing overcrowded trains and long waiting lists.
The Railways Minister announced the doubling of the 7.15 km-long rail line between New Jalpaiguri and Siliguri, which will ease congestion and improve running time for trains on this corridor. As reported by Zee News, this development will also allow the railways to operate more trains on the stretch. The 7.15-kilometre section plays a crucial role in connecting the Northeast with the rest of India and is heavily used by passenger and freight trains. The corridor acts as the primary railway gateway for tourists heading to Darjeeling, Gangtok, Kalimpong, and other destinations in the Himalayan belt. Railway authorities expect the additional track to improve operational efficiency by easing congestion and reducing delays, with the project also creating more room for introducing additional train services in the future as rail traffic in the region continues to increase. The project has received strong support from local MP Raju Bista, who emphasized its importance for the Siliguri-Terai region and urged for further expansion to Hasimara-Alipurdwar.
Eastern Railway (ER) announced the introduction of a new 31777 Berhampore Court–Lalgola EMU Local train service and the extension of the existing 31776 Krishnapur–Cossimbazar local train up to Lalgola in the Sealdah Division with effect from May 18, 2026. According to The Indian Express, the 31776 Krishnapur – Berhampore local will leave Krishnapur at 06:55 hrs. to reach Berhampore Court station at 07:47 hrs., while the 31777 Berhampore Court – Lalgola EMU Local will leave Berhampore Court station at 08:35 hrs. to reach Lalgola at 09:35 hrs. with effect from May 18, 2026. This enhancement provides improved connectivity for local commuters in the region.
Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that the problem of Chingri Ghata, stuck for three years, has been resolved. According to Zee News, permission has been obtained from the Kolkata Police, and construction has officially started on the critical, 366-metre missing link of the Kolkata Metro Orange Line at the Chingrighata crossing. This project is essential for connecting New Garia to the IT hub at Salt Lake Sector V and eventually the airport. To facilitate girder launching on the Eastern Metropolitan (EM) Bypass, Kolkata Police have implemented major traffic diversions over two consecutive weekends in May 2026. With construction now underway again, authorities are targeting completion of the viaduct and metro connectivity to Sector V by December 2026, representing a significant milestone after the project had remained delayed for an extended period due to coordination and administrative hurdles.
In the Union Budget 2026-27, the Ministry of Railways allocated ₹14,205 crore for railway infrastructure projects in West Bengal. As reported by The Indian Express, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has approved three major infrastructure projects to improve connectivity in West Bengal, including the doubling of the New Jalpaiguri-Siliguri railway line, preparation of a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the Salboni-Adra third line project, and the introduction of a new Kolkata-Jaipur train service. Earlier this month, the national transporter approved multiple infrastructure projects worth ₹895.30 crore to boost line capacity and improve freight train operations in the state, including construction of Bridge No. 520 (UP & DN, substructure) between the Madhukunda-Damodar section in Adra Division. These developments demonstrate the government's continued commitment to enhancing railway infrastructure across West Bengal.
