States » EastPosted at: Oct 31 2026 12:13AM


West Bengal steps in to resolve land dispute holding up Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor work in Asansol

Asansol, Oct 30 (UNI) The West Bengal government has stepped in to resolve a long-standing land dispute that has stalled construction of the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (EDFC) in Asansol, with West Burdwan District Magistrate S Ponnambalam chairing a meeting with railway officials, local representatives and affected traders on Friday.
The meeting, held at the District Magistrate’s office in Asansol, was attended by senior railway officials, representatives of the protesting shopkeepers and Asansol North MLA Krishnendu Mukherjee. The discussions centred on finding a solution that would allow the project to proceed while addressing the rehabilitation concerns of traders whose livelihoods depend on the shops.
The EDFC, an eastern arm of the Dedicated Freight Corridor project, is intended to improve freight movement across northern and eastern India. The 1,337-km stretch between Ludhiana in Punjab and Sonnagar in Bihar has been commissioned and is operational. However, the remaining 400-km section between Sonnagar and Andal, extending towards Dankuni, is yet to be completed. The stretch falls under the jurisdiction of Eastern Railway.
The impasse centres on the small markets in the Railpar area of Asansol, where around 100 traders operate shops. The dispute reportedly began a few years ago after the original landowner sold the property to the Railways without the knowledge or consent of the sitting tenants.
Tensions escalated when railway authorities attempted to demolish the market to make way for the expansion of the railway tracks. The traders formed a human chain in front of the bulldozers, preventing the demolition drive from proceeding. Their demand for rehabilitation also received support from the then Trinamool Congress-led state government, leaving the project stalled in the area.
With the change in government, the Railways has renewed efforts to resolve the bottleneck and complete the corridor.
Administrative sources said Friday's meeting focused on finding a mutually acceptable solution. While railway officials highlighted the economic and strategic importance of completing the Sonnagar-Andal section, the traders and MLA Mukherjee sought fair compensation or an alternative rehabilitation arrangement for the affected shopkeepers.
District officials said the administration wanted to ensure that infrastructure development did not leave small traders without a means of livelihood. Further technical assessments and consultations with stakeholders are expected before a relocation plan is finalised.
The first round of discussions at the District Magistrate's office was followed by a separate meeting between Mukherjee and representatives of the trading community. The BJP MLA assured the traders that the project would move forward while safeguarding their interests. UNI DC NST
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