Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw inaugurated the Siuri Road over bridge, dedicated the Kumarpur Road over bridge and flagged off a new Asansol-Bokaro train service by video conference, marking a boost to rail infrastructure in West Bengal. He said the projects are intended to strengthen safety and regional connectivity in the state and adjoining areas. He noted that the record budget allocation for railways in West Bengal is Rs 142.05 billion (bn), which is more than three times the average allocation during 2009 to 2014. He added that railway projects worth about Rs 920 bn are under way and expected to drive infrastructural transformation. He said more than a dozen new trains have been introduced to improve connectivity for people of West Bengal and that the first Vande Bharat sleeper is now operating from the state under the Purvoday initiative. He also referred to the announcement of the first bullet train for West Bengal in the recent rail budget, proposed to start from Siliguri. He said the Prime Minister approved an East-West freight corridor linking West Bengal with Gujarat and that plans include an underground rail corridor in the Chicken-Neck area of North Bengal to strengthen strategic transport. The Siuri Road over bridge was completed at a project cost of Rs 420 million (mn) and will eliminate lengthy waits at the former level crossing, improve safety and reduce congestion around Siuri station. The structure is expected to enable faster travel for students, workers and local commuters and to allow uninterrupted movement of emergency vehicles. The Kumarpur Road over bridge on the GT Road corridor will link Asansol, much of Paschim Bardhaman district and neighbouring Jharkhand, easing trade and daily commuting. The bridge was built at a cost of Rs 550 mn and will reduce congestion and improve movement of traffic within the state and to neighbouring states. The new Asansol-Bokaro Steel City MEMU passenger service numbered 63592/63591 will run via Paschim Bardhaman and Purulia districts and Bokaro district of Jharkhand and will commence regular operations from 10th February 2026.