West Bengal to accelerate land acquisition for railway construction to Doklam

The Government of West Bengal has approved the process of acquiring land parcels for the creation of a new railway line. This project aims to improve transport connectivity with the India-China-Bhutan trijunction region. The new railway branch is expected to stimulate tourism activity in the Jaldakhaka-Bindu-Toidey-Tangta region.

Railway services and the forest department will conduct a joint inspection of the area after the monsoon season ends. This strategically important project was previously stalled due to a lack of cooperation from the state government.

To expedite the construction of the new railway line, which will provide better connectivity to the border area near the India-China-Bhutan trijunction, the West Bengal government has granted permission for the accelerated acquisition of about 380 hectares of land. As a result, work on the Chalsa-Naksak line project, spanning 20 kilometers and originally approved in 2011-2012, is likely to accelerate.

The route of this line starts from Huniya More, near Chalsa, passes through the forest districts of Jalpaiguri and Kalimpong. It was added that this railway connection will improve access to the India-China-Bhutan trijunction and boost tourism in the Jaldakhaka-Bindu-Toidey-Tangta area.

timesofindia.indiatimes.comJuly 29, 01:08

First direct freight train launched between India and Nepal

As part of a new stage in the development of railway connections between India and Nepal, the first direct commercial container freight train has been launched. This train transported rapeseed oil in 40 tankers and completed its route last week, traveling from the port of Kolkata to the customs yard in Biratnagar, Nepal.

Advantages of the new route

The Ministry of Railways stated that this new scheme will significantly reduce transit time, lower logistics costs, and decrease cargo handling volumes. Furthermore, it will enhance the efficiency, reliability, and competitiveness of cross-border trade.

Development of rail transport

This achievement is a continuation of the operation of the broad-gauge railway line connecting Jogbani (India) and Biratnagar (Nepal), which was opened in June 2023. According to the ministry's statement, following the signing of the revised Letter of Exchange (LoE) in November 2025, direct commercial rail traffic with Biratnagar became operational, opening up new opportunities for bilateral trade and economic cooperation.

Impact on trade

This direct freight transport is expected to have a significant positive impact on the movement of imported and exported goods by offering a faster, more economical, and environmentally sustainable mode of transport. Reducing the number of cargo handling points contributes to increasing the efficiency of the entire supply chain.

www.aajtak.inJuly 23, 09:09

Smart fence being installed on the India-Bangladesh border to prevent infiltration

Work on installing a barbed wire fence on the border between India and Bangladesh has intensified. The government of Bengal transferred this territory to the BSF border service, and now fencing is being erected along the border.

Scale of the project on the border

The government of Bengal provided the BSF with over a thousand acres of land in nine districts. On this territory, a fence with a length of 172 kilometers is being installed. In addition to the fence itself, high-tech cameras are planned for installation, which indicates the use of advanced technologies.