Historic Railway Gift of Rs 4,600 Crore to BhagalpurThree Major Rail Projects Approved; Dumka-Rampurhat Doubling and Bypass Line to Transform the Region's Rail Network

Bhagalpur/Special Correspondent: Indian Railways has unlocked new doors of development for Bihar's historical Anga region and silk city of Bhagalpur. The Central Government and the Ministry of Railways have officially approved three vital rail projects worth approximately Rs 4,600 crore to strengthen the rail infrastructure in and around Bhagalpur. Grounding these projects will not only bring about a revolutionary improvement in Bhagalpur's connectivity, but will also give unprecedented momentum to freight and passenger traffic between Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal.

Bhagalpur-Dumka-Rampurhat 177 km Doubling Project Worth Rs 3,169 Crore

The largest project within this comprehensive package is the doubling of the 177-kilometer-long single rail section between Bhagalpur, Dumka, and Rampurhat, at an expenditure of roughly Rs 3,169 crore.

Direct Benefit to Three States: This vital rail route passes through five districts (including Banka, Godda, and Dumka) across Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal. The project will directly benefit about 441 villages and a population of around 28.72 lakh people with better and modern rail connectivity.

Boost to Religious Tourism: The completion of this double line will make travel seamless for devotees from various parts of the country to renowned religious shrines such as Deoghar (Baba Baidyanath Dham) and Tarapith (Shakti Peeth).

Increase in Trade and Freight: This route is crucial for transporting coal, cement, fertilizers, stones, and other minerals. Post-doubling, additional freight handling of approximately 15 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) will become possible on this route, providing a major pillar of support to the regional economy.

Sabour-Gonudham 13.38 km Bypass Line Worth Rs 303 Crore

To alleviate the heavy train congestion and the old, complex issue of 'engine reversal' at Bhagalpur railway junction, the construction of a 13.38-kilometer-long Sabour-Gonudham bypass line has been approved at a cost of Rs 303.20 crore.

Currently, the Barahat-Bhagalpur rail section experiences heavy capacity utilization pressure (around 125 percent), and a significant amount of time is wasted changing train engines at Bhagalpur junction.

Under this new bypass scheme, Gonudham will be developed as a new junction and connected to Sabour (on the Bhagalpur-Sahibganj rail section). This will allow trains to bypass Bhagalpur junction directly without reversing engines, resulting in massive savings in travel time and a remarkable improvement in train punctuality.

Bhagalpur-Jamalpur Third Rail Line Project (Rs 1,156 Crore)

To balance the constantly growing train pressure in the region, provisions have also been made for the construction of a 53-kilometer-long third rail line between Bhagalpur and Jamalpur, involving an outlay of Rs 1,156 crore.

Dozens of freight and passenger trains operate daily on this busy route. The third line will provide separate tracks for freight and passenger trains, thereby increasing the speed of superfast and express trains while paving the way for the operation of new trains in the future.

Implementation Under PM Gati Shakti Scheme

All of these mega projects are being advanced as integrated planning under the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan. In response to questions raised by the local Member of Parliament in Parliament, the Ministry of Railways clarified that land acquisition and construction works are being expedited to ensure that all these ambitious schemes are completed within the stipulated timeframe.

The realization of these projects worth Rs 4,600 crore will not only establish Bhagalpur as a major rail transit hub in eastern India, but will also pave the way for the all-round development of the entire region alongside the creation of new employment opportunities.