Patna: The Ministry of Railways has approved the construction of a new 117km railway line between Bihta and Anugrah Narayan Road in Bihar, a project expected to boost connectivity and development in the Magadh and Shahabad regions.
The project, sanctioned at a cost of Rs 3,606.42 crore, has received clearance from railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, who has directed the East Central Railway to begin work without delay.
Once completed, the line will provide direct rail links between Patna and the Aurangabad district headquarters, while bringing Arwal onto the railway map for the first time. The district, until now, has remained without any rail connectivity.
Officials said the scheme would meet a long-standing demand for improved links in the region, with the railway line set to accelerate socio-economic development and create new employment and business opportunities.
Work is already under way on a separate 13km stretch between Anugrah Narayan Road and Aurangabad. The Bihta–Anugrah Narayan Road route will also serve as an alternate corridor to the existing DDU–Patna–Jhajha line and the DDU–Gaya–Koderma Grand Chord line. A road-over-road bridge at Bihta has been approved to ensure smooth movement of traffic.
The detailed project report has been finalised, and construction is expected to begin soon. Railway officials said the investment was part of a broader effort to expand the rail network in Bihar, ahead of the state assembly elections.
