Delhi-Howrah route, Delhi-Howrah train route: To improve train operations on the Delhi–Howrah route, Indian Railways (IR) will construct third and fourth lines between Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Junction and Jhajha. The 400-km stretch is aimed at strengthening rail infrastructure, improving passenger movement and ensuring smoother freight operations. The project is also expected to boost industrial activity and contribute to the region’s overall economic growth.
Delhi-Howrah Main line
The Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Junction to Jhajha railway route falls under the administrative control of East Central Railway (ECR) zone. The third and fourth railway lines will be constructed at a cost of Rs 17,000 crore. The construction will begin in a phased manner within the next few months.
Construction of the third and fourth railway lines between Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Junction and Jhajha
The zonal railway has divided the project into multiple parts to ensure faster and more efficient execution. The work has been divided into smaller sections, including Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Junction–Danapur, Danapur–Fatuha, Fatuha–Bakhtiyarpur, Bakhtiyarpur–Punarkh, Punarkh–Kiul, and Kiul–Jhajha.
Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Junction-Jhajha railway line
In the first phase, the Railway Board has approved the Bakhtiyarpur to Fatuha (24 km) section, involving the acquisition of 6.6 hectares of land at a cost of approximately Rs 931 crore, and the Bakhtiyarpur to Punarkh (30 km) section, involving the acquisition of 1 hectare of land at a cost of approximately Rs 392 crore. The Bakhtiyarpur-Punarkh tender process will be completed soon, following which land acquisition and construction work will commence.
The Punarkh to Kiul section, estimated to cost approximately Rs 2,514 crore, and the Kiul-Jhajha section, estimated to cost approximately Rs 903 crore, are in the final stages of approval. Approval for the remaining sections are underway at various levels, says ECR.
The zonal railway further said: “Due to land constraints around Patna, the construction of this third and fourth line will involve the removal of two stabling lines between Danapur and Patna and the construction of a third and fourth line. Similarly, due to space constraints between Patna and Patna City, an additional line for up and down directions will be constructed, which will be used in a reversible manner.”
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History of Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Junction-Jhajha railway line
The Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Junction-Jhajha railway line was constructed in the 1860s and 1870s. Subsequently, it was doubled. Over the decades since then, driven by population growth and industrialization, the number of passenger trains and freight trains has steadily increased. Consequently, the operation of trains far exceeding the track capacity has created difficulties in track maintenance and punctuality.
To overcome these challenges, increasing track capacity was essential. In light of this, the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor and the third and fourth lines are being constructed for freight train operations. These lines will facilitate the smooth operation of freight and passenger trains, while also paving the way for the operation of a significant number of additional trains.