Highlighting a "golden era" of railway development in Uttar Pradesh, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed the Lok Sabha on Tuesday that 49 railway projects aimed at strengthening connectivity across the state have been sanctioned.

As of April 1, 2025, these projects cover a total length of 3,807 kilometres with an estimated cost of Rs 62,360 crore.

Project Status And Expenditure

The Minister revealed that significant progress has already been made:

Completed Work: Construction on 1,323 km of railway lines has been completed, and operations have commenced.

Expenditure: An expenditure of Rs 30,611 crore has been incurred so far on these projects.

Focus On Bahraich-Jarwal Road Connectivity

Responding to a specific question regarding the new Bahraich-Jarwal Road railway line, Mr. Vaishnaw stated that the project is moving forward rapidly.

Status: The survey for this 70-km long line has been completed, and the Detailed Project Report (DPR) is ready.

Impact: Currently, the rail connection between Bahraich and Jarwal Road is routed via Gonda Junction. The new direct line will provide faster, smoother connectivity, reducing travel time and boosting the economic and industrial development of the region.

Major Projects Approved

To further bolster the state's rail infrastructure, several other key projects have been approved, including:

New Bahraich–Khalilabad Line: 240 km.

Budhwal–Jarwal Road–GondaKachahari 4th Line: 56 km.

Budhwal–Jarwal Road–Gonda 3rd Line: 62 km.

Barabanki–Budhwal 3rd Line: 27 km.

Budgetary Allocation: An 18-Fold Increase Comparing the current funding to previous years, the Railway Minister noted an unprecedented increase in the budget for Uttar Pradesh.

2009-2014: The average annual allocation was Rs 1,109 crore.

2025-2026: The allocation has risen to approximately Rs 19,858 crore, marking an almost 18-fold increase.

Pace Of Construction

The speed of execution has also seen a drastic rise:

2009-2014: A total of 996 km of new lines were commissioned.

2014-2025: This figure surged to 5,272 km, averaging 479 km per year—more than double the previous rate.

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Challenges In Implementation

The Minister clarified that the timeline and cost of projects are often influenced by external factors. These include land acquisition, forest clearances, law and order issues, geographical conditions, and the availability of funds.

Mr Vaishnaw emphasised that the government is committed to providing a strong foundation for rail connectivity in the state, ensuring faster, safer, and more convenient travel for passengers.

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