LALU Railways plan mega projects in BIHAR

PATNA: Railway projects worth between Rs 1,300 and Rs 1,500 crore are being executed under the East Central Railway (ECR) in Bihar during the current financial year. These projects include laying of new railway lines (646 km), doubling of tracks (311 km) and gauge conversion work (713 km). However, the target for laying new lines has been fixed at 425 km during current financial year, said ECRs chief administrative officer(CAO- construction) Rajeev Bhargava. Talking to TOI, Bhargava said the railways usually set the target of completing new lines 180 km each year while the target stipulated for the doubling of the tracks and gauge conversion is 100 km and 200 km respectively per year. "But with a view to completing these projects in time, the ECR has set the target higher this year," he said adding that all projects under the ECR have been going on in full swing and most of the important projects are likely to be completed by the end of February next. The CAO said the railways have so far completed laying of the new line between Sasaram and Bikramganj while the work from Bikramganj to Ara would be completed by the end of this year. Thus the entire broad gauge new line between Ara and Sasaram would be thrown open for train movements this year to cater to the needs of people...

"Similarly, other important routes on which new line work are likely to be completed soon are the Sakri-Hasanpur, Muzaffarpur-Sitamarhi, Khagaria- Biseswarasthan and other routes falling under the ECR's Sonepur and Samastipur divisions," he said. He said the railways have already announced that the year 2007 would be the year of completion of all new line projects under the ECR, while 2008 would be for the completion of gauge conversion work. Similarly, he said, the year 2009 is likely to be the year of mega bridges completion in the ECR , he said. The CAO said the railways have expedited the track doubling work between Barauni and Katihar now. The track doubling work on the Samastipur-Khagaria route has been targeted for the completion this year. However, the work on the Jainagar-Darbhanga-Narkatiaganj route is to be completed in the year 2007-2008. Likewise Saharsa-Purnea and Saharsa-Forbesgang routes are to be completed during 2008-2009 to fulfil the dreams of the people living in these areas, he said.

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RANJAN RITURAJ SINH