Rlys out to develop network in state

PATNA: The railways are strengthening its infrastructure in Bihar to develop its network to provide more amenities to passengers. To complete these projects, the railways require large chunks of land from the state government at different places on priority basis. Sources said the railways had already decided to convert all metre-gauge (MG)lines into broad-gauge (BG) and lay new BG lines in remote areas with a view to providing connectivity to long distance trains. Target to complete about 200-km new lines, 100-km track doubling and 200-km gauge conversion work have been set for the current financial year, the sources said. The state government, which is keen to achieve all-round development in Bihar, is extending full cooperation in acquiring the required land. In Nalanda district, the railways have proposed to lay new lines between Islampur and Nateshwar. For the purpose it has submitted 11 proposals to the state government to acquire land in the district. All proposals have been accepted and the railways have been given land vis-a-vis in seven cases, the sources said adding that efforts are on to expedite handing over of land in other cases too. This besides, the railways had submitted 44 proposals for acquiring land for the Neora Daniyawan new lines. The state government has accepted the proposals in toto and has already handed over land in nine cases. A few proposals are, however, pending with the government and they are likely to be considered soon. Similarly, the railways have sent 18 proposals for land acquisition to lay new BG lines between Khagaria and Kusheshwarasthan. Land have been handed in nine cases so far while efforts are on to clear the remaining proposals, the sources said. While the railways recently sent seven proposals for acquiring land in Darbhanga for laying new lines, the state government has cleared 11 proposals for land in Begusarai and two in Munger. A senior state government official said there would be no delay on the part of the government to hand over the required land and would cooperate with the railways to enable it complete the pending projects at the earliest. The railways recently held a high-level meeting with the top brass of the state government to discuss its various projects in the state. "Since the railways have been carrying out several mega projects like construction of wheel factory at Chapra, coach maintenance workshop at Harnaut, wagon maintenance workshop at Sonepur and other projects, it cannot complete these without state government's assistance," an ECR official said adding that railways have been currently executing projects worth Rs 13,000 crore in the state.