"To complete all the announced projects, the Railways will need Rs two lakh crore to Rs 2.5 lakh crore," Chowdhury said after launching the work for doubling of tracks in the Plassey-Jiaganj section of Eastern Railway.
"So, in future, before announcing any new project, we should be practical and pragmatic," Chowdhury said.
Chowdhury, who was allotted the MoS Railways portfolio after Trinamool pulled out of the UPA coalition in September, had said after his swearing-in that he would review all railway projects announced by the erstwhile Railway Ministers Mamata Banerjee and Mukul Roy.
Seeking to dismiss rumours that railway projects for West Bengal would be affected, Chowdhury, who is not on best of terms with Banerjee, said, "A rumour is on that West Bengal's projects will be scrapped, but this is not true. Not a single project will be affected."
The project for doubling rail track in the 55-km long Plassey-Jiaganj section will cost Rs 234 crore, he said. Work will be completed within two-and-a-half-years.