In a recent update to the Lok Sabha, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that Bihar is currently seeing 55 railway projects at different stages of development.
The projects encompass new line construction, gauge conversion, and track doubling, reflecting a significant investment in the state’s rail infrastructure.
As of April 1, 2024, the 55 projects include 31 new lines, two gauge conversions, and 22 track doubling initiatives.
These projects collectively cover a total length of 5,064 kilometers and are estimated to cost Rs 79,356 crore. Of this, 1,194 kilometers of track has already been commissioned, with an expenditure of Rs 26,983 crore incurred up to March 2024.
The update came in response to inquiries from Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) MP Arun Bharti, who sought information on the current status of railway projects in Bihar.
Vaishnaw explained that railway projects are managed on a zonal basis rather than by state or constituency, as they often span across state boundaries.
The projects in Bihar fall under the jurisdiction of the East Central Railway (ECR), Eastern Railway (ER), North Eastern Railway (NER), and Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) Zones.
Vaishnaw also addressed questions regarding the completion timeline of these projects.
He indicated that the details of costs, expenditures, and project outlays are available in the public domain, providing transparency on the progress of these initiatives.
For the fiscal year 2023-24, the annual budget allocation for railway infrastructure and safety works in Bihar stands at Rs 8,505 crore.
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