**Summary:**
This document addresses Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 680 concerning the status of surveys for new railway lines in Bihar, specifically regarding the Kursela-Bihariganj, Kishanganj-Jalalgarh, and Bihariganj-Virpur routes. The Minister of Railways, Information Broadcasting and Electronics Information Technology, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, provides the response.
The Kursela-Bihariganj (58 km) and Jalalgarh-Kishanganj (51.87 km) new line projects were initially included in the 2008-09 budget but were not executed due to low traffic projections. Renewed interest and the sanction of the Bikramshila-Katarea New Line project have led to a decision to revive the Kursela-Bihariganj project as an operational requirement.
A survey has been conducted for the Bihariganj-Virpur new line project via Murliganj, Triveniganj, and Bhimnagar. The field survey is complete. Sanctioning of this project is contingent upon consultations with stakeholders, including State Governments, and necessary approvals from NITI Aayog and the Ministry of Finance, as well as appraisal processes. Railway projects are sanctioned based on remunerativeness, traffic projections, last mile connectivity, demands from various representatives, operational requirements and socioeconomic considerations depending upon throwforward of ongoing projects and overall availability of funds.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Railways: A department of the Government of India responsible for the railway system.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India.
Ashwini Vaishnaw: The Minister of Railways, Information Broadcasting and Electronics Information Technology.
Bihar: A state in eastern India, where the railway line projects and surveys are being conducted.
Kursela-Bihariganj New Line: A proposed new railway line project between Kursela and Bihariganj in Bihar.
Kishanganj-Jalalgarh New Line: A proposed new railway line project between Kishanganj and Jalalgarh in Bihar.
Bihariganj-Virpur via Murliganj, Triveniganj, Bhimnagar New Line Project: A new railway line project connecting Bihariganj to Virpur through Murliganj, Triveniganj and Bhimnagar.
NITI Aayog: National Institution for Transforming India, a policy think tank of the Government of India.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 680
TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.07.2025
STATUS OF SURVEY FOR NEW RAILWAY LINE IN BIHAR
†680. SHRI RAJESH RANJAN :
Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:
(a) whether it is a fact that tenders have been invited after preparing a
detailed project for the construction of new railway line between
Kursela-Bihariganj and Kishanganj-Jalagarh in Bihar;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the status of the survey for construction of new railway line from
Bihariganj to Virpur via Murliganj-Triveniganj-Jadia-Bhemnagar as
on date?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND
ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)
(a) to (c) : 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 representatives, Railway’s own operational
requirement, socio-economic considerations etc. depending upon
throwforward of ongoing projects and overall availability of funds.
Contd…2/--2-
Kursela-Bihariganj (58 Km) New Line and Jalalgarh - Kishanganj (51.87
Km) New Line projects were included in the budget 2008-09. However
execution of these projects could not be taken up due to low traffic
projections. Subsequently, several representations were received to
revive these two projects and after sanction of Bikramshila – Katarea
New Line project, Kursela – Bihariganj New Line has become an
operational requirement. As such, it has been decided to take up these
projects.
Separately, a Survey for Bihariganj-Virpur via Murliganj, Triveniganj,
Bhimnagar New Line Project has been taken up. Field Survey has been
completed.
The Sanctioning of the project requires consultation with various stake-
holders including State Governments and necessary approvals viz.
appraisal of NITI Aayog, Ministry of Finance etc.
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