Kolkata: Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister of Railways, Information & Broadcasting, and Electronics & Information Technology, visited Braithwaite & Co. Ltd. in Kolkata on October 2, 2024. During the visit, he inspected a modified Guard Van and participated in cleanliness activities as part of the "Swachchta Hi Seva" campaign. Alongside Sukanta Majumdar, Minister of State for Education and Development of the North Eastern Region, and other dignitaries, Vaishnaw operated a mechanized cleaning machine and contributed to Shramdaan at Braithwaite & Co. Ltd. Later, he visited Gandhi Bhawan in Beleghata, paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi, and joined in prayer chants in commemoration of Gandhi Jayanti.
At Sealdah Railway Station, Vaishnaw dedicated the extension of five platforms (1 to 5) to accommodate 12-coach Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) local trains. This upgrade will enable an additional 300,000 passengers to travel daily, as more EMU trains will now operate with 12-coach rakes instead of 9-coach rakes, enhancing convenience for suburban commuters. He also inaugurated passenger train services over the newly commissioned Nashipur Railway Bridge in Murshidabad district, West Bengal, which connects both sides of the Bhagirathi River. To mark the occasion, he flagged off the Sealdah-Ranaghat EMU, Azimganj-Cossimbazar MEMU, and Krishnanagar-Azimganj passenger trains through video conferencing. Additionally, he launched the Radhikapur–Anand Vihar Terminal Express, providing the first direct rail link between Radhikapur in Uttar Dinajpur district, West Bengal, and Delhi. This new service is expected to benefit students, patients, traders, and residents of neighbouring districts, including Malda in West Bengal and Katihar in Bihar.
In addition to these developments, Vaishnaw inaugurated a Rail Coach Restaurant at Sealdah, offering passengers a unique dining experience with railway-themed décor and cuisine. He also visited an exhibition showcasing old movie posters from iconic Indian films shot on Indian Railways, and supported local entrepreneurship by purchasing indigenous products from the One Station One Product (OSOP) stall using a digital payment system.
During the event, Vaishnaw highlighted the significant progress made in the expansion of the Kolkata Metro. Between 1972 and 2014, only 28 km of the metro network was developed, but in the last decade, an additional 38 km has been constructed, demonstrating the government's commitment to improving the metro network in West Bengal. He also noted that nine Vande Bharat Express trains are currently operational in the state, bringing high-speed rail connectivity to West Bengal.
Vaishnaw underscored the substantial increase in the Union Government's budgetary allocation for railway development in West Bengal, aligning with the "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayaas" vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He called on the State Government to address land acquisition issues, which have delayed 61 railway projects in West Bengal. Vaishnaw reiterated the Union Government's readiness to invest in these projects, provided the State Government cooperates to facilitate their timely completion.
Other dignitaries present at the event included Sukanta Majumdar, Minister of State for Education and Development of the North Eastern Region; Santanu Thakur, Minister of State for Ports, Shipping & Waterways; Samik Bhattacharya, Member of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly; Jagannath Sarkar, Member of Parliament for Ranaghat; Debashree Chowdhury, former Member of Parliament for Raiganj; Padmashri Prahalad Rai Agarwala; and Milind Deouskar, General Manager of Eastern Railway.
BI Bureau
