- By Kamakshi Bishnoi
- Wed, 09 Jul 2025 11:59 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Despite earlier assurances by Nawada MP Vivek Thakur to operationalise the Sheikhpura–Patna railway line by June 15, the deadline has lapsed without progress. A new tentative date of August 15 has been suggested, though officials have yet to confirm it formally. On-ground conditions, however, indicate the project is unlikely to be completed by then either.
Social worker Avinash Kumar, monitoring the developments, stated that train services may realistically begin by the end of this year or early next year. The ongoing construction at Narayanpur Mohalla in Barbigha — where a station is being built — remains incomplete.
While the railway track has been laid at the station, the bridge connecting the platforms is yet to be constructed. Track-laying work toward Narsinghpur and Maur villages is still underway, along with the installation of signalling infrastructure.
The Sheikhpura–Patna railway line, approved over two decades ago during Nitish Kumar’s tenure as Railway Minister, is part of a 123-km-long corridor connecting Neura, Daniyawan, Bihar Sharif, Barbigha, and Sheikhpura. While the 38.3 km stretch from Daniyawan to Bihar Sharif became operational in 2015, the remaining sections have suffered significant delays, largely due to land acquisition disputes.
In particular, a decade-long protest by farmers in Narayanpur over compensation issues brought construction to a standstill. The matter lingered in the High Court until a resolution was reached in March 2025, allowing work to resume. Despite the renewed pace of construction, completion within the newly suggested timeline remains uncertain.