Suvendu Adhikari Hails Cabinet Approval for Kharagpur-Bhadrak Fourth Railway Line

Kolkata, August 20, 2026; West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has welcomed the Union Cabinet’s approval of a fourth railway line between Kharagpur in West Bengal and Bhadrak’s Ranital section in Odisha, calling the decision an important boost to rail infrastructure and connectivity across the eastern region.

The 173-kilometre multi-tracking project is expected to add substantial capacity to one of the key railway routes linking West Bengal and Odisha. Adhikari said the additional track would help address congestion on the existing network and improve the efficiency of train operations.

In his reaction, the West Bengal Chief Minister expressed his gratitude to the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, for clearing the project. He said expanding railway infrastructure on the Kharagpur-Bhadrak corridor would support both passenger services and the movement of goods.

The project is also expected to strengthen freight connectivity for industries operating across the region. Higher rail capacity could facilitate the transportation of steel, coal, iron ore, cement, automobiles, containers and food grains, while providing industries with a more dependable logistics network.

Adhikari said the improved railway infrastructure could prove particularly beneficial for micro, small and medium enterprises, manufacturing centres and ports. Better links between industrial clusters, production facilities and ports are expected to contribute to smoother supply chains and support economic activity in eastern India.

The additional track may also help shift a greater share of heavy freight traffic from roads to railways. This could reduce pressure on highways and ease congestion associated with the movement of commercial vehicles.

The Kharagpur-Bhadrak corridor has strategic importance as part of the eastern coastal railway network, serving important industrial and commercial destinations in West Bengal and Odisha. Increasing track availability is expected to give railway authorities greater flexibility in scheduling passenger and freight trains.

Adhikari described infrastructure expansion as an essential component of economic development and called for the project to be executed in a timely and efficient manner. He said its successful completion would bring benefits to passengers, businesses, MSMEs and ports while strengthening connectivity between the two neighbouring states.

The Cabinet’s decision is part of the Centre’s broader efforts to expand railway capacity through multi-tracking projects, with a focus on improving passenger mobility, freight transportation and connectivity along important economic corridors.