A file photo of Thakurganj railway station located in Thakurganj, Kishanganj district, Bihar. (Photo Courtesy: CPRO NFR)
Maligaon, July 3, (MExN): The Ministry of Railways has sanctioned the doubling of the railway line between Aluabari Road and Thakurganj, under the jurisdiction of Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR).
Spanning a total length of 19.95 kilometres, the project has been approved at an estimated cost of approximately Rs 326.67 crore, inofmred an official statement.
The sanction forms part of the umbrella initiative for multi-tracking and flyover/bypass works aimed at capacity augmentation during the financial year 2024–25, it said, adding that doubling work is expected to significantly improve regional mobility, reduce travel time, and enhance the punctuality of passenger trains.
It will also enable the smoother movement of freight trains carrying agricultural produce, consumer goods, and essential commodities, boosting local economies and improving market access for farmers and traders, it added.
The Aluabari Road–Thakurganj section falls on the High-Density Network route connecting Aluabari to New Jalpaiguri.
This corridor currently registers a high utilisation rate of 94%, which is projected to reach 200% by 2027–28, the statement from the BFR CPRO noted.
The strategic significance of this section is expected to increase further with the completion of ongoing infrastructure projects, such as the new railway line between Araria and Galgalia, it said.
Once completed, the project will contribute to easing congestion across this critical corridor that connects Eastern India to the North-East region, the NFR held, adding that it remains committed to executing the project in a timely and efficient manner to maximise benefits for connectivity and development in Bihar, West Bengal, and the North-East.
