- By Kamakshi Bishnoi
- Thu, 04 Dec 2025 07:36 PM (IST)
- Source:Jagran News Network
East Central Railway has taken a significant step toward improving passenger convenience and streamlining freight operations, as the ambitious project to build a third and fourth railway line between Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction and Jhajha has received phased approval from the Railway Board. The 400-km expansion project, estimated at Rs 17,000 crore, is expected to boost industrialisation and enhance Bihar’s connectivity.
According to East Central Railway Chief Public Relations Officer Saraswati Chandra, the project has been divided into six sections to accelerate construction. These include: Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction-Danapur, Danapur-Fatuha, Fatuha-Bakhtiyarpur, Bakhtiyarpur-Punarakh, Punarakh-Kiul and Kiul-Jhajha.
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In the first phase, the Railway Board has approved the Bakhtiyarpur-Fatuha (24 km) and Bakhtiyarpur-Punarakh (30 km) sections. The Bakhtiyarpur-Fatuha stretch will cost Rs 931 crore, including land acquisition for 6.6 hectares. The Bakhtiyarpur-Punarakh stretch will cost Rs 392 crore, with one hectare of land to be acquired. Tendering for the Bakhtiyarpur-Punarakh section will conclude shortly, after which land acquisition and construction will begin.
Cost approvals for the Punarakh-Kiul (Rs 2,514 crore) and Kiul-Jhajha (Rs 903 crore) sections are also in their final stages. Proposals for the remaining stretches are being processed at different administrative levels.
Due to limited land availability in Patna, the railway administration plans to remove two existing stabling lines between Danapur and Patna to make space for the new tracks. In the Patna-Patna City section, one additional line will be used reversibly for both up and down movements due to space constraints.
The Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction-Jhajha route, originally built in the 1860s-70s and later doubled, has been facing increased traffic pressure for decades due to population growth and industrial expansion. This has affected punctuality and track maintenance, making capacity augmentation necessary.
East Central Railway stated that the new lines, along with the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor, will significantly improve freight operations and enhance passenger train movement. The expansion will also create scope for running additional trains, thereby accelerating industrial development across Bihar.