Centre Allocates Record Rs 10,000 Cr for Bihar Rail Infrastructure: Vaishnaw

Patna: Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Friday said the Centre has allocated a record budget of over Rs 10,000 crore for the development of rail infrastructure in Bihar during the current financial year.

Vaishnaw, who was on a day-long visit to the state, flagged off the Chapra–Delhi (Anand Vihar) Express, the Mau–Delhi (Anand Vihar) Express and the extension of the Doohri Ghat–Aunrihar MEMU train service up to Varanasi in Saran.

Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary was present on the occasion, while Uttar Pradesh minister AK Sharma joined the event virtually.

Addressing the gathering in Saran, Vaishnaw said, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi has allocated a record railway budget of more than Rs 10,000 crore for the development of rail infrastructure in Bihar in the current financial year".

He said five additional platforms are being constructed at Patna station to boost passenger capacity.

The railway minister also said the Fatuha station near the state capital is also being developed.

"In the last 12 years under the leadership of Modi, a total of 2,034 km of new railway tracks have been laid in Bihar, which is more than the total rail network of a country like Malaysia," Vaishnaw said.

He added that Bihar has received 11 Amrit Bharat trains and 14 Vande Bharat trains in recent years, and bullet train connectivity would also be introduced in the coming years.

"Bullet train connectivity from Delhi to Lucknow, Lucknow to Varanasi, Varanasi to Patna and Patna to Siliguri will begin in the coming years. The journey time from Delhi to Patna will be reduced to just 4 hours and 41 minutes once the bullet train becomes operational," he said.

Besides, the Centre is also planning to introduce 200 new trains for the state in the coming seven to eight years, he added.

He also said locomotives manufactured in the state are being exported abroad.

"Today, the 51st locomotive engine will be exported from the Marhowrah plant in Bihar to an African country," he said.

Vaishnaw added that railway projects worth around Rs 1.15 lakh crore are currently under implementation in the state.