March 16, 2026
June Maliah’s speech on the Demands for Grants under the control of the Ministry of Railways for 2026-27
Hon. Chairperson, Sir, thank you for giving me this opportunity to speak on the Demand for Grants under the control of the Ministry of Railways for 2026-27. The Indian Railways is not merely a transport system. It is the lifeline of India, connecting millions of people every single day – farmers travelling to markets, students travelling to colleges, workers travelling to their workplaces, traders carrying goods, athletes travelling to competitions, and jawans travelling to serve the nation. Because of this, Railway policy must focus not only on extravagant announcements and statistics, but also on fair allocation of resources, efficient implementation of projects, passenger dignity and reliable services. Sir, as a representative from West Bengal, I would like to raise certain concerns regarding Railway investment and development in the State. West Bengal has historically played a crucial role in the growth of Indian Railways. Some of the busiest Railway corridors and stations in the country are located in our State, and millions of passengers travel through the railway network of West Bengal every day. However, when we examine the recent Railway allocations and project implementation, there is a feeling that the pace of development in West Bengal is not keeping up with the pace seen in several other States. Sometimes, it appears that while some States are moving ahead on the express tracks, West Bengal is still being kept on a slow passenger line. The recent data shows that Railway Budget increases across States have been highly uneven. Gujarat witnessed a 29-fold increase in railway allocations. Delhi saw a 28-fold increase; Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh saw a 24-fold increase; Maharashtra received a 20-fold increase; Uttar Pradesh received an 18-fold increase; but West Bengal has seen only a three-fold increase. This disparity definitely raises legitimate concerns about equitable distribution of Railway investments across States. West Bengal does not ask for special treatment, neither does West Bengal asks for charity, but the State that helped build the Railway network of India certainly deserves fair attention and equitable development. The issue is not just about allocation but also implementation. Under the Railway Station Development Program or the Amrit Bharat Scheme, 101 stations were sanctioned in West Bengal. Work has been completed only in three stations, which is barely three per cent of the total. Similarly, the safety system kavach, which is designed to prevent train collisions, has seen only about 16 per cent coverage in West Bengal. Railway electrification progress has also been limited. In 2024, electrification in West Bengal accounted for only about two per cent of the national progress. Even when the funds are allocated, utilization remains incomplete. West Bengal’s Railway zones received Rs. 1,317 crore for customer amenities in 2025. Sadly, only about Rs. 737 crore, roughly 56 per cent had been spent by December, 2025. The gap between allocation and utilisation directly affects passenger services. There are broader concerns in Railway functioning. Miscellaneous expenditure in the Railway Budget increased by 83 per cent in 2025-26, while the construction of new railway lines has decreased by nearly 29 per cent. At the same time, allocations for customer amenities rate been reduced by nearly Rs. 150 crore compared to last year. These trends raise important questions about priorities in Railway spending. Sir, safety must remain the top priority. Currently, only about four per cent of the Indian Railways network is covered under Kavach anti-collision system. For Railway-line doubling, the target for 2025-26 was 2,600 kilometre, but only 573 kilometre, that is around 22 per cent, had been completed by December 2025, even though financial utilization had reached about 74 per cent. The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India has also flagged financial irregularities amounting to Rs. 543 crore in various railway zones. Hon. Chairperson, Sir, I would now like to highlight several railway issues concerning my constituency, which is Medinipur, in Paschim Medinipur, particularly in Kharagpur and Belda. Kharagpur is one of the most important railway junctions in eastern India as we all know, and is home to one of the longest platforms in the world. Yet it is unfortunate that many passengers there are still waiting for basic railway facilities and infrastructure improvements. Belda station serves passengers from nearly ten surrounding blocks across Paschim and Purba Medinipur, and thousands of daily commuters depend on it every day. However, several longstanding issues remain unresolved. First, the level crossing at Gate No. 24 on the Belda-Contai road between Bakhrabad and Belda stations creates severe traffic congestion every day. Students, pregnant mothers, patients, and daily commuters face serious hardships. According to communication from the South Eastern Railway headquarters in Garden Reach, the proposal for a Road Over Bridge at Gate No. 24 has already been processed and soil investigation is underway. I urge the Ministry, through you, to expedite the construction of this Road Over Bridge at the earliest. Second, passengers are facing inconvenience because the BeldaHowrah local train that used to run before the COVID now terminates at Kharagpur. Restoring the Belda-Howrah local services will provide a great relief to daily commuters. Third, there is also a strong demand for additional MEMU or local trains between Belda and Kharagpur, considering the increasing passenger load. Passengers have also requested stoppages of important long-distance trains such as the Purushottam Express at Belda, which would significantly benefit travellers from the region. Sir, through you, I would like to thank the hon. Minister for providing stoppage of Shalimar-Puri Sri Jagannath Express at Dantan station from 31st January, 2026, after I raised the matter in this august House on 10th December, 2025. Thank you. Hon. Chairperson, Sir, there are also serious civic issues in the railway areas of Kharagpur that require urgent attention. Nearly 13,000 to 15,000 households, with a population of around 80,000 people, have been living in railway colonies in Kharagpur for more than fifty years. Yet, many residents still struggle to access basic amenities such as water supply, drainage, and electricity. Similarly, in Gole Bazar, several authorized shops that pay rent to the Railways, still do not have proper electricity connections, even after repeated pleas from the shopkeepers. Improvement of railway colonies is also a criteria. Whenever the State Government or municipal authorities attempt to assist residents by improving civic infrastructure, coordination problems arise because the land falls under the jurisdiction of the Railways. The residents of these colonies deserve basic dignity and essential civic services. The railway bus stand in Kharagpur, which is used daily by thousands of passengers who come to catch trains, lacks basic facilities such as proper waiting hall and adequate toilet facilities for women passengers. The railway vegetable market near the station is also in extremely poor condition, even though large numbers of people depend on it every day. The condition of many railway quarters is deteriorating, with poor drainage systems and lack of maintenance. Even the railway hospital in Kharagpur faces shortage of doctors, forcing many patients to be referred elsewhere for treatment. Finally, there are concerns among workers that the historic Kharagpur Railway Workshop, which has long been an important centre of railway employment and technical work, is gradually seeing a reduction in work activity. Railway workshops have historically been the engines of employment and skill development, and they should be strengthened rather than neglected.
