By Prime Minister Narendra
Copyright indiatimes
iStockBihar railways project (Image for representation)
The Union Cabinet has approved the doubling of the 104-km Bakhtiyarpur-Rajgir-Tilaiya railway line in Bihar at a cost of about Rs 2,192 crore, a move expected to expand connectivity, boost freight capacity and improve access to historic destinations in the state.The decision was taken at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the project on September 24. It will span four districts and add around 104 km to the Indian Railways network. Assembly elections in Bihar are scheduled later this year.The upgraded line will provide direct rail links to Rajgir, Nalanda, and Pawapuri, places of cultural and religious significance that attract pilgrims and tourists from across India.According to government estimates, the project will touch around 1,434 villages and a population of 13.46 lakh, including two of Bihar’s aspirational districts — Gaya and Nawada.Beyond passenger benefits, the railway section is a vital freight corridor. It serves the transport of coal, cement, clinker, and fly ash. Doubling the line is expected to handle an additional 26 million tonnes of freight annually, easing the load on an already busy route.Live EventsOfficials said the environmental impact is also notable. By reducing dependence on road transport, the project is projected to save about 5 crore litres of oil and cut carbon dioxide emissions by 24 crore kg — equivalent to planting one crore trees.Railways, being energy efficient, is expected to play a key role in both climate action and lowering logistics costs.The government emphasised that additional line capacity would ease congestion, improve mobility, and strengthen service reliability.A press note said the multi-tracking proposal will provide “the much-needed infrastructural development on one of the busiest sections of Indian Railways.”The project is part of the PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan, which aims to strengthen multi-modal connectivity and logistics through integrated planning. Railway officials added that seamless connectivity for the movement of people, goods, and services remains central to the initiative.The Cabinet statement linked the decision to the prime minister’s vision of creating a “New India” where infrastructure underpins economic self-reliance.It noted that the expansion would not only aid mobility but also create employment and self-employment opportunities for people in the region.Add as a Reliable and Trusted News Source Add Now!
(You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel)
Read More News onbihar projectsbihar newsbihar railwaysbihar pollsbihar railways project
(Catch all the Business News, Breaking News, Budget 2025 Events and Latest News Updates on The Economic Times.) Subscribe to The Economic Times Prime and read the ET ePaper online….moreless
(You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel)Read More News onbihar projectsbihar newsbihar railwaysbihar pollsbihar railways project(Catch all the Business News, Breaking News, Budget 2025 Events and Latest News Updates on The Economic Times.) Subscribe to The Economic Times Prime and read the ET ePaper online….moreless
