Indian Railways has approved a Road Over Bridge project and new passenger halts aimed at extending rail accessibility to underserved communities in West Bengal. The Ministry of Railways stated that Northeast Frontier Railway will construct a road over a bridge worth 176 crore rupees between Malahar Halt and Samsi on the Katihar Division. The new Road Over Bridge will eliminate traffic bottlenecks, reduce road-rail conflicts, and significantly improve safety for motorists, pedestrians, and emergency services.
A proposed passenger halt at Chandipur between the Kalikakhali and Lavan Satyagraha Smarak stations on the Panskura-Digha line in South Eastern Railway’s Kharagpur Division has also been approved. Another halt station near Sidhu Kanho University on the Purulia-Gourinathdham section of Adra Division has also been approved. In addition, the Nashipur halt on the Bhadrpur-Lalgola section of Eastern Railway will connect communities between Murshidabad and Jiaganj. Furthermore, a halt at Jangalpara on the Howrah-Goghat section in Howrah Division will connect the Talpur and Takipur halts. Another new halt at Rangmati on the Muri-Gonda section in the Ranchi Division will improve connectivity for residents of adjacent hamlets and rural communities, providing direct rail access to local marketplaces and educational institutions.
These approvals represent a significant step towards expanding safe, inclusive, and accessible rail connectivity, ensuring that the benefits of railway infrastructure reach every citizen.