**Executive Summary:**
This document addresses Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 41 regarding railway projects under the Bihar package. It details the present status of these projects, the amount spent by Indian Railways, and future connectivity plans. The information was presented to the House on July 23, 2025, by the Minister of Railways, Information Broadcasting and Electronics Information Technology, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw.
**Key Points / Main Content:**
* **Railway Zones:** Railway infrastructural projects in Bihar are covered by East Central Railway (ECR), Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR), Eastern Railway (ER), and North Eastern Railway (NER).
* **Budget Allocation:**
* 2009-14: ₹1,132 Cr.
* 2025-26: ₹10,066 Cr. (Nearly 9 times increase)
* **New Track Commissioning:**
* 2009-14: 318 Km (average 63.6 Km)
* 2014-25: 1899 Km (average 172.6 Km, more than 2.5 times increase)
* **Recently Completed Projects (Examples):**
* Munger Bridge (19 km): ₹2,774 Cr.
* Kosi Bridge (22 Km): ₹516 Cr.
* Patna Bridge (40 Km): ₹3,555 Cr.
* Hajipur-Bachwara Doubling (72 km): ₹930 Cr.
* Kiul-Gaya Doubling (123 km): ₹1,200 Cr.
* **Ongoing Projects (Examples):**
* Sitamarhi-Sheohar New Line (28 Km): ₹567 Cr.
* Sakri-Hasanpur New Line (76 Km): ₹735 Cr.
* **Project Sanctioning Criteria:** Projects are sanctioned based on remunerativeness, traffic projections, connectivity, congestion, state government demands, and operational requirements.
* **Project Status (as of 01.04.2025):**
* 52 projects (31 New Lines, 1 Gauge Conversion, 20 Doubling)
* Total length sanctioned: 4,663 km, costing ₹86,107 crore
* Length commissioned: 1,014 km
* Expenditure incurred up to March 2025: ₹29,353 crore
* **Factors Affecting Project Completion:** Land acquisition, forestry clearance, state share deposition, utility shifting, statutory clearances, geological conditions, law and order, and climatic conditions.
* **Surveys Taken Up:**
* Deen Dayal Upadhyay-Kiul 3rd/4th Line (390 Km)
* Chhapra-Katihar 3rd/4th Line (450 Km)
* **Road Over Bridges (ROBs) / Road Under Bridges (RUBs):** 558 ROBs/RUBs constructed during 2014-2025. 218 ROBs/RUBs sanctioned at a cost of ₹6,014 crore, are in various stages of planning and execution.
* **Amrit Bharat Station Scheme:** 98 stations in Bihar identified for development.
* **Vande Bharat Train Services:** 20 Vande Bharat train services cater to Bihar.
* **Amrit Bharat Express Services:** 10 Amrit Bharat Express services cater to Bihar.
* **Namo Bharat Rapid Rail Services:** 02 Namo Bharat Rapid Rail services cater to Bihar.
**Impact Analysis:**
* **Government of India (Ministry of Railways):**
* *Impact:* Accountable for the execution and funding of railway projects in Bihar, as well as addressing parliamentary questions.
* *Action Required:* Ensure timely allocation of funds, monitor project progress, and address factors delaying project completion.
* **East Central Railway (ECR), Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR), Eastern Railway (ER), North Eastern Railway (NER):**
* *Impact:* Responsible for the zonal execution of railway projects in Bihar.
* *Action Required:* Expedite project execution, coordinate with state authorities for land acquisition and clearances, and ensure efficient utilization of funds.
* **State Government of Bihar:**
* *Impact:* Benefits from improved railway infrastructure, enhancing connectivity and economic development.
* *Action Required:* Facilitate land acquisition, provide necessary clearances, and deposit the state share for cost-sharing projects.
* **Citizens of Bihar:**
* *Impact:* Gain access to improved transportation facilities, enhanced connectivity, and increased economic opportunities.
* *Action Required:* Utilize the new and upgraded railway infrastructure and provide feedback to the relevant authorities.
Key Entities Referenced
Bihar: A state in India where railway projects are being undertaken.
Indian Railways: The railway company responsible for the projects mentioned in the document.
Munger Bridge: A bridge project across Ganga river in Bihar, costing Rs 2,774 Crores.
Kosi Bridge: A bridge project across Kosi river in Bihar, costing Rs 516 Crores.
Patna Bridge: A bridge project in Patna, Bihar costing Rs 3,555 Crores.
East Central Railway (ECR): One of the Zonal Railways covering railway projects in Bihar.
Amrit Bharat Station Scheme: A scheme by the Ministry of Railways for the development of railway stations, with 98 stations identified in Bihar.
Vande Bharat Express: A type of train service, with 20 services catering to stations in Bihar.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 41
TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.07.2025
RAILWAY PROJECTS UNDER BIHAR PACKAGE
†*41 SMT. LOVELY ANAND:
SHRI GIRIDHARI YADAV:
Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:
(a) the details and the present status of the railway projects
included under Bihar package by the Union Government; and
(b) the details of amount spent by the Indian Railways on the said
projects so far?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND
ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)
(a) & (b) : A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
*****STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) AND (b) OF LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 41 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.07.2025
(a) & (b) : Railway infrastructural Projects in the State of Bihar are covered
by East Central Railway (ECR), Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR), Eastern
Railway (ER), North Eastern Railway (NER) Zone of Indian Railways. Zonal
Railway wise details of Railway projects are made available in public domain
on Indian Railway’s website.
Budget allocation for Infrastructure projects and safety works, falling fully/
partly in the State of Bihar is as under:
Period Outlay
Rs. 1132 Cr./year
2009-14
Rs. 10,066 Cr. (Nearly 9 times)
2025-26
The details of commissioning / laying of new track falling fully/partly in the
State of Bihar during 2009-14 and 2014-25 is as under :-
New Track Average Commissioning of new
Period
Commissioned tracks
318 Km 63.6 Km
2009-14
1899 Km 172.6 (More than 2.5 times)
2014-25
Details of some of the recently completed projects falling fully/partly in Bihar
are as under :
Sl No Project Cost
(In Crores of
Rs)
1 Munger Bridge (19 km) 2,774
2 Kosi Bridge (22 Km) 516
3 Patna Bridge (40 Km) 3,555
4 Hajipur-Bachwara Doubling (72 km) 930
5 Kiul-Gaya Doubling (123 km) 1,200
6 Karota Patner-Mankatha - Surface triangle 129
(8 km)
Contd…2/--2-
7 Rampurhat-Mandarhill New Line and 1,500
Rampurhat-Murarai- 3rd line (160 km)
8 Jaynagar-Darbhanga-Narkatiaganj and 1,193
Narkatiaganj-Bhikhna Tori Gauge
Conversion (295 Km)
9 Sakri-Laukaha Bazar-Nirmali & Saharsa- 2,113
Forbesganj Gauge Conversion (206 Km)
10 Bakhtiyarpur Flyover (4 Km) 402
11 Katareah-Kursela Patch Doubling incl. 222
bridge on river Kosi (7 km)
12 Araria-Galgalia New Line (111 Km) 4, 415
13 Kiul-Tilaiya Railway Electrification (87 105
kms)
14 Valmikinagar-Sugauli-Muzaffarpur and 351
Sugauli-Raxaul Railway Electrification
(240 km)
The above projects include three important bridges across Ganga and
Kosi rivers viz Munger bridge, Patna Bridge and Kosi bridge. These are
mega bridges with longer spans requiring expertise of high nature.
Therefore, IITs/NITs were engaged for checking the designs and
methodology of construction of these bridges.
Though these Bridges were sanctioned long before 2014 but substantial
progress in the construction of these bridges could be achieved only after
2014. Proper planning, adoption of efficient execution methodologies and
availability of sufficient funds were ensured for expediting these projects
in Bihar.
Contd…3/--3-
Further, some of the main projects falling fully/partly in Bihar which have
been taken up are as under:
S No. Project Cost
(In Crores of Rs)
1 Sitamarhi-Sheohar New Line (28 Km) 567
2 Sakri-Hasanpur New Line (76 Km) 735
3 Khagaria-Kusheshwarsthan New Line 1511
(42 Km)
4 Neora-Daniawan–Biharsharif - Barbigha- 2200
Shekhpura New Line (166 Km)
5 Koderma-Tilaiya New Line (65 Km) 1626
6 Hajipur-Sagauli New Line (151 Km) 2087
7 Araria-Supaul New Line (96 Km) 1605
8 Vikramshila-Katareah New Line with 2090
Bridge over River Ganga(26 Km)
9 Pirpainti-Jasidih New Line (97 Km) 2140
10 Sonnagar – Patratu multitracking (291 5148
Km)
11 Samastipur – Darbhanga Doubling (38 624
Km)
12 Rampur Dumra - Tal-Rajendra Pul- 1677
Additional bridge and doubling (14 Km)
13 Sagauli-Valmiknagar Doubling (110 Km) 1280
14 Muzaffarpur-Sagauli Doubling (101 Km) 1465
15 Barauni- Bachwara 3rd & 4th line (32 124
Km)
Railway projects are surveyed/sanctioned/executed Zonal Railway wise and
not State-wise as the Railways’ projects may span across State boundaries.
Railway projects are sanctioned on the basis of remunerativeness, traffic
projections, last mile connectivity, missing links and alternate routes,
augmentation of congested/saturated lines, demands raised by State
Governments, Central Ministries, Members of Parliament, other public
Contd…4/--4-
representatives, Railway’s own operational requirement, socio-economic
considerations etc. depending upon throwforward of ongoing projects and
overall availability of funds.
As on 01.04.2025, 52 projects(31 New Lines, 01 Gauge Conversions and 20
Doubling), of a total length of 4,663 km, costing Rs.86,107 crore, falling
fully/partly in Bihar, are sanctioned, out of which 1,014 km length has been
commissioned and an expenditure of Rs.29,353 crore has been incurred upto
March’ 2025. The summary is as under:-
Total Length Total Exp
No of
Length Commissioned upto
Category sanctioned
NL/GC/DL till Mar'25 Mar'25
Projects
(in Km) (in Km) ( in Cr)
New Lines 31 2691 516 16814
Gauge
1 69 52 544
Conversion
Doubling/Multi-
20 1904 446 11995
tracking
Total 52 4663 1014 29353
Completion of any Railway project/s depends on various factors like quick
land acquisition by State Government, forestry clearance by officials of
forest department, deposition of State share by the State Government in cost
sharing projects, shifting of infringing utilities, statutory clearances from
various authorities, geological and topographical conditions of area, law and
order situation in the area of project/s site, number of working months in a
year for particular project site due to climatic conditions, etc and all these
factors affect the completion time of the project/s. With above constraints,
every effort is being made to complete these projects at the earliest.
Contd…5/--5-
Moreover to improve the further connectivity in the State of Bihar following
important surveys have been taken up:
S No. Project Length
(Km)
1 Deen Dayal Upadhyay-Kiul 3rd & 4th 390
Line
2 Chhapra-Katihar 3rd & 4th Line 450
3 Nawada-Pawapuri New Line 33
4 Bihta-Aurangabad New Line 120
5 Bhagalpur-Jamalpur 3rd Line 53
6 Fatuha-Bakhtiyarpur 3rd and 4th Line 24
7 Bakhtiyarpur-Tilaiya doubling 104
8 Rampurhat-Dumka-Bhagalpur doubling 177
RoBs/RUBs in Bihar:
In order to improve mobility and safety of train operations and road users,
manned level crossings are also eliminated in phased manner. Sanctioning
and execution of works of ROBs/RUBs in lieu of LCs is a continuous and
ongoing process on Indian Railways. Such works are prioritized and taken up
on the basis of its impact on safety and mobility in train operations and
impact on road users.
During 2014-2025, 558 ROBs/RUBs were constructed in Bihar. Further, 218
Nos. Road Over Bridge (ROB)/Road Under Bridge (RUB) at a cost of Rs. 6,014
crore are sanctioned in the State of Bihar, which are at various stages of
planning and execution.
Station Redevelopment in Bihar:
The Ministry of Railways has launched Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. It
envisages development of stations on a continuous basis with a long-term
approach. It involves preparation of master plans and their implementation
in phases to improve the amenities at the stations like improvement of
Contd…6/--6-
station access, circulating areas, waiting halls, toilets, lift/escalators as
necessary, platform surfacing and cover over platform, cleanliness, free Wi-
Fi, kiosks for local products through schemes like 'One Station One Product',
better passenger information systems, executive lounges, nominated spaces
for business meetings, landscaping, etc. keeping in view the necessity at
each station.
The scheme also envisages improvement of building, integrating the station
with both sides of the city, multimodal integration, amenities for
Divyangjans, sustainable and environment friendly solutions, provision of
ballastless tracks, etc. as per necessity, phasing and feasibility and creation
of city centre at the station in the long term.
So far, 1337 stations have been identified for development under this
scheme, out of which 98 stations are located in the state of Bihar. The
names of stations identified for development under Amrit Bharat Station
Scheme in the state of Bihar are as following:
No. of
State Amrit Names of Amrit Stations
Stations
Anugraha Narayan Road, Ara, Arariya Court,
Bakhtiyarpur, Banka, Banmankhi,
BapudhamMotihari, Barahiya, Barauni, Barh,
Bihar 98
Barsoi Jn, Begusarai, Bettiah, Bhabua Road,
Bhagalpur, Bhagwanpur, Bihar Sharif, Bihiya,
Bikramganj, Buxar, Chakia, Chausa, Chhapra,
Contd…7/--7-
Dalsingh Sarai, Darbhanga,
DauramMadhepura, Dehri On Sone, Dholi,
Dighwara, Dumraon, Durgauti, Ekma, Fatuha,
Gaya, Ghorasahan, Guraru, Hajipur Jn,
Jamalpur Jn, Jamui, Janakpur Road,
Jaynagar, Jehanabad, Jhanjharpur,
Kahalgaon, Karhagola Road, Katihar Jn,
Khagaria Jn, Kishanganj, Kudra, Labha,
Laheria Sarai, Lakhminia, Luckeesarai Jn,
Madhubani, Maheshkhunt, Mairwa, Mansi Jn,
Masrakh, Mokama, Motipur, Munger
(Monghyr), Muzaffarpur Jn, Nabinagar Road,
Narkatiaganj Jn, Naugachia, Nawadah,
Paharpur, Patliputra, Patna Jn, Piro, Pirpainti,
Rafiganj, Raghunathpur., Rajendra Nagar
Terminal (Patna), Rajgir, Ram Dayalu Nagar,
Raxaul, Sabaur, Sagauli, Saharsa, Sahibpur
Kamal, Sakri, Salauna, Salmari, Samastipur,
Sasaram, Shahpur Patoree, Shivanarayanpur,
SimriBakhtiyarpur, Simultala, Sitamarhi,
Siwan, Sonpur Jn., Sultanganj, Supaul,
Taregna, Thakurganj, Thawe
Development works at railway stations under Amrit Bharat Station
Scheme in the state of Bihar have been taken up at a good pace. Till now,
phase-I works have completed at Pirpainti and Thawe railway stations in
the state of Bihar and progress of some of the above stations is as given
below:
Contd…8/--8-
At Saharsa station, structural works of new station building including
new waiting hall and toilet block, improvement of parking area,
circulating area development, entrance gate, boundary wall in
circulating area have been completed and work of construction of new
12 m wide Foot Over Bridge, new platform shelters have been taken up.
At Salauna station, structural works of new station building,
development of new parking area, raising and surfacing of platform no.
2 have been completed and work of construction of new 12 m Foot Over
Bridge, circulating area improvement, raising of platform no. 1, new
platform shelter work have been taken up.
At Luckeesarai station, structural work of new station building and new
toilet block have been completed. Brickwork and plaster of new station
building and toilet block, circulating area development work, drain
work, porch erection work have been taken up.
At Gaya station, structural work of second entry (West side) departure
and arrival building, main entry (East side) departure building, new
pilgrimage building and underground tank have been completed. Two
floors of new multi-level two-wheeler parking have been commissioned,
work on additional two floors has been taken up. Work of construction
of air concourse, finishing work of station buildings, new platform
shelters, circulating area development etc. have been taken up.
At Muzaffarpur Station, structural work of new Combined Terminal
Building has been completed and new ticket booking office is
commissioned. Structural work of second entry side arrival and
departure block building and service buildings have been completed.
Works of construction of main entry station building, finishing work of
second entry side station buildings, construction of Foot Over Bridge,
circulating area development, elevated road work have been taken up.
Contd…9/--9-
Vande Bharat/Amrit Bharat/Namo Bharat Train:
Out of the 144 Vande Bharat train services presently operational on the
Indian Railways (IR) network, following 20 Vande Bharat train services (on
originating/terminating basis) are catering to the needs of various stations
located in the State of Bihar:
1) 20983/84 Tatanagar-Patna Vande Bharat Express
2) 21893/94 Tatanagar-Patna Vande Bharat Express
3) 21895/96 Tatanagar-Patna Vande Bharat Express
4) 22233/34 New Jalpaiguri-Patna Vande Bharat Express
5) 22303/04 Howrah-Gaya Vande Bharat Express
6) 22309/10 Howrah-Bhagalpur Vande Bharat Express
7) 22345/46 Patna-Gomtinagar Vande Bharat Express
8) 22347/48 Howrah-Patna Vande Bharat Express
9) 22349/50 Patna-Ranchi Vande Bharat Express
10)26501/02 Patliputra-Gorakhpur Vande Bharat Express
Similarly, of the 14 Amrit Bharat Express services operating on IR, 10 Amrit
Bharat Express services (on originating/terminating basis) are catering to
the needs of various stations located in the State of Bihar:
1) 15557/58 Darbhanga-Anand Vihar (T) Amrit Bharat Express
2) 11015/16 Saharsa-Lokmanya Tilak (T) Amrit Bharat Express
3) 15567/68 Bapudham Motihari-Anand Vihar(T) Amrit Bharat Express
[introduced w.e.f. 18th July, 2025].
4) 15561/62 Darbhanga-Gomtinagar Amrit Bharat Express [introduced
w.e.f. 18th July, 2025].
5) 22361/62 Rajendra Nagar-New Delhi Amrit Bharat Express [introduced
w.e.f. 18th July, 2025].
Contd…10/--10-
Presently, 04 Namo Bharat Rapid Rail services are being operated by IR of
which 02 Namo Bharat Rapid Rail services viz. 94803/04 Jaynagar-Patna
Namo Bharat Rapid Rail are catering to the stations located in the State of
Bihar.
******