Patna: Bihar is set to get a new rail link after the Union railway minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw, approved a project to connect Nawada and Pawapuri, a major Jain pilgrimage centre.
The 25.1km line, with an estimated cost of Rs 492.14 crore, was sanctioned under Indian Railways’ Umbrella Works 2024-25 programme for new lines. It will provide direct connectivity between Nawada and Pawapuri, home to the revered Jal Mandir, which attracts thousands of devotees every year.
Officials said the project would ease road traffic congestion and improve travel to Parasnath, Nalanda, and Rajgir, while also supporting the state’s wider tourism circuit. The line is expected to give a fresh impetus to religious tourism, strengthen links with Nalanda University and Bodh Gaya, and shorten travel time across the Nawada–Nalanda–Rajgir belt.
Beyond tourism, the project is also being pitched as a catalyst for regional trade and industry. It will connect Nawada to the proposed industrial zone and provide better market access for the traditional silk industry in Qadirganj. The development is also expected to support large infrastructure projects, including the proposed 2000MW nuclear power plant in Rajauli.
Construction will generate significant employment locally, officials said, while improved rail connectivity is likely to boost economic activity long after completion.
Nawada MP Vivek Thakur welcomed the announcement, calling it part of a “rail revolution” in Bihar. He thanked prime minister Narendra Modi and railway minister Vaishnaw for the approval, saying the new line would directly benefit millions across Nawada and Nalanda districts.
