Patna: The long-delayed Sitamarhi–Jaynagar–Nirmali rail project has finally been approved, Bihar energy minister and Supaul MLA Bijendra Prasad Yadav confirmed on Wednesday.
Calling it a “major gift” for Mithila, Yadav said the Railway Ministry had cleared the 188km line, which will connect the Tirhut and Kosi regions. He thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav for reviving a project that had remained in limbo for more than a decade.
The line was first announced in 2007, when the foundation stone was laid, but land acquisition and adequate budgetary support never followed. “This vital border rail project has now been brought out of cold storage,” Yadav said, adding that the move would ease travel across Sitamarhi, Madhubani and Supaul districts.
Railway officials said construction would begin soon, with land acquisition set to be taken up on priority. Once complete, the route will provide an alternate link between Tirhut and Kosi, improving connectivity in the flood-prone region.
Local residents had repeatedly expressed disappointment at the absence of funding in previous railway budgets. But with the Centre’s renewed push, the project is now expected to move ahead. “This line is not just about travel—it’s about linking communities and boosting development in one of the most challenging regions of Bihar,” a senior official said.
