Patna: Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw began his two-day tour of Bihar on Thursday night, promising a slew of railway infrastructure upgrades aimed at boosting the state’s connectivity and economy. On Friday morning, he departed Patna in a special saloon coach and reached the historic Jamalpur Rail Engine Factory, where he laid the foundation stone for new facilities and inspected key operational units.
Accompanied by Union Minister Lallan Singh and Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary, Vaishnaw detailed plans to rejuvenate the Jamalpur facility, including assigning it the responsibility of maintaining LHB coaches and Vande Bharat trains. A new Wagon Periodic Overhaul (POH) facility is also on the cards, which will enable the factory to service up to 800 wagons per month.
The Railway Minister is also expected to meet NDA leaders during his visit. After completing the Jamalpur leg of the tour, Vaishnaw will travel back to Patna by train at 2:30 PM and is scheduled to reach the state capital by 5 PM. He will depart for Delhi later in the evening.
His visit comes just months ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections and is seen as politically significant, with the BJP-led NDA keen on showcasing development in the state. Sources indicate that additional announcements, including the launch of new trains and further modernization of stations under the Amrit Bharat scheme, are likely.
