Bihar Tells Modi Ahead of Assembly Polls ‘Ye Dil Mangey More’
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Bihar Submits Key Railway Demands Ahead of Modi’s Visit
New rail bridges, suburban transport network, and extra lines top the state’s wishlist to improve connectivity and boost development
By AMIT KUMAR
NEW DELHI, May 27, 2025 – Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Bihar on May 29–30, the Bihar government has placed a series of critical railway infrastructure demands before the Centre. Sources said that the set of demands from the Centre aim at significantly boosting connectivity across the state and aligning it with national standards.
Prime Minister is once more visiting Bihar. He will be in the poll-bound state on May 29-30. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government in Bihar is pivoting the Centre-led development as key poll plank. Bihar is bracing up for Assembly elections later this year.
“One of the top priorities is the construction of a new railway bridge over the Ganga River between Ara and Chhapra. This is a long-pending demand that is expected to dramatically enhance connectivity between the Shahabad and Saran regions,” said a senior official of the Bihar government.
It may be recalled that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had faced poll drubbing in the Shahabad region with the party losing four Lok Sabha seats in last year’s general elections.
“The bridge would also improve travel and trade between North and South Bihar, which currently rely on overburdened routes,” added the official.
Bridging the Infrastructure Gap
Currently, Bihar has just 5.31 km of rail track per 1 lakh people, far below the national average of 9.81 km, making the case for urgent rail expansion stronger, said the official. “With large numbers of the people traveling to other states for education, employment, and medical needs, the pressure on existing rail infrastructure has become unsustainable,” added the official.
High-Density Rail Network Expansion
To ease congestion and improve efficiency, Bihar has sought third and fourth lines on the high-density rail corridor between Deen Dayal Upadhyay Junction (DDU), Buxar, Ara, Patna, and Kiul, said sources. “These sections witness extremely high passenger volumes and are vital for both local and inter-state connectivity,” added the official.
Patna Regional Transport Network
The state has also proposed a new rail bridge between Fatuha and Bidupur across the Ganga, along with the creation of a regional circular rail network connecting Patna–Patna Sahib–Fatuha–Bidupur–Hajipur–Sonpur–Patliputra–Patna. “This will support development of satellite towns, multimodal hubs, and a major coaching terminal and freight yard in Fatuha, improving commuter and cargo mobility in the Patna Metropolitan Region,” added the official.
North Bihar Suburban Rail Demand
To improve suburban transport and decongest long-distance rail routes, the Bihar government has proposed new lines connecting Siwan, Chhapra, Hajipur, Muzaffarpur, Samastipur, and Darbhanga to Patna, sources added. “With these routes witnessing persistent overcrowding, third and fourth tracks on the Siwan–Chhapra–Hajipur–Barauni–Katihar corridor have also been requested,” added the official.
South Bihar Suburban Network & Circular Route
Bihar is also looking to develop a circular rail network along the Patna–Gaya–Tilaiya–Rajgir–Fatuha route, popularly referred to as the “Buddha Circuit Rail Corridor.” “This would benefit pilgrims traveling to Bodh Gaya and Rajgir and improve access for residents in Patna, Jehanabad, Gaya, Nawada, and Nalanda,” added the official.
Furthermore, the state has asked for Mumbai-style local train services and additional tracks to connect Buxar, Bhojpur, Rohtas, Lakhisarai, Munger, Sheikhpura, Bhagalpur, Jamui, and Banka with the capital, said sources. “This would enhance suburban transit in South Bihar, spur regional development, and reduce commuting times drastically,” added the official.
A Push Toward National-Level Rail Infrastructure
These proposals collectively aim to transform Bihar’s railway infrastructure and bring it on par with national benchmarks, said sources. “If accepted, they would not only ease passenger congestion but also lay the groundwork for economic and regional development through better logistics, tourism, and urban expansion,” added the official.
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