Indian Railways has sanctioned Rs 4.32 billion for rebuilding a critical rail bridge on the Howrah–Kharagpur section in West Bengal, a move aimed at meeting both current and future operational requirements on one of the busiest corridors in eastern India. The project, estimated at Rs 4.3176 billion, falls under the administrative control of the South Eastern Railway zone.

According to Indian Railways, the new bridge has been designed to cater to rising axle loads, increasing traffic volumes and planned train speeds of up to 130 kmph. It will be engineered to efficiently handle a higher gross tonnage of 57 million gross tonnes, strengthening the corridor’s capacity and operational resilience.

Rail bridge number 57, one of the most important structures on the Howrah–Kharagpur section, has been supporting rail operations for more than six decades on well-established foundations. With the sanctioned rebuilding, the existing structure will be replaced with a modern and robust bridge designed to enhance durability and minimise age-related material deterioration. The upgraded design is expected to improve safety margins and ensure long-term service reliability.

In a statement, Indian Railways said the new structure, aligned with current engineering standards, will enhance structural resilience and operational performance while matching the parallel line infrastructure along the section.

Keeping future network requirements in mind, the sanctioned works also include provisions for a fourth railway line on the Howrah–Kharagpur corridor. Railways said a combined substructure has been planned, capable of accommodating both the existing Up line and the future fourth line, taking into account space availability, cost efficiency and technical parameters.

The project is expected to significantly improve safety, connectivity, capacity and overall operational efficiency on this high-density rail corridor, supporting long-term growth in passenger and freight traffic.