Patna: Three railway halts in Bihar’s Bhagalpur district are set to be upgraded into full stations, in a move that officials say will improve passenger amenities and allow express trains to stop along the route.
The halts at Gonudham, Panjwara Road and Gangwara, located on the Bhagalpur–Dumka and Godda sections, have received approval from Eastern Railway for redevelopment. The project, expected to be completed within three years, forms part of the government’s Gati Shakti infrastructure programme.
Railway officials said the upgrade would include the construction of at least two platforms at each site, along with expanded platform areas, improved seating and round-the-clock ticket booking facilities. Staff will also be deployed to manage operations, replacing the current system in which trains make only brief technical stops.
The proposal follows a survey conducted last year by the Malda division, which recommended converting the halts into stations to streamline train operations and improve passenger convenience. The plan was subsequently approved by the railway headquarters in Kolkata.
Once operational, the upgraded stations are expected to accommodate a wider range of services, including express trains that currently bypass these stops. Foot overbridges will be installed where required. The project is estimated to cost between Rs 9 crore and Rs 10 crore.
Separately, work is under way on plans for a new terminal at Jagdishpur, about 14km from Bhagalpur Junction. The proposed facility, to be known as the New Bhagalpur Terminal Station, is expected to be completed within three years at an estimated cost of Rs 310.45 crore.
According to railway authorities, the terminal will include three passenger platforms, foot overbridges, service buildings and circulating areas, along with multiple loop, goods and stabling lines to support both passenger and freight operations.
The developments are part of a broader expansion of rail infrastructure in the region, including a proposed doubling of the Bhagalpur–Dumka–Rampurhat section at a projected cost of Rs 3,169 crore. Land acquisition for the project is currently in progress.
In addition, Bhagalpur station itself is slated for redevelopment into a multi-storey complex at an estimated cost of Rs 481.60 crore. Preparations have also begun for a new rail line between Pirpainti and Godda.
Elsewhere, the Punsiya and Sanjha halts have already been upgraded to block hut stations, a change expected to improve operational efficiency and allow trains to run at shorter intervals. The railways have also introduced a mobile UTS ticketing facility aimed at making ticket purchases more accessible for passengers.
