Bihar has waited 28 years for the completion of several railway projects sanctioned as far back as 1996. Despite the efforts of three Union Railway Ministers from the state—Ram Vilas Paswan, Nitish Kumar, and Lalu Prasad—most lines remain unfinished. A total of 53 railway projects, including new lines, gauge conversions, and doubling efforts, have been pending since 1996, according to data obtained under the Right to Information Act. The Khagaria-Kusheshwar Asthan line, conceived by Paswan in 1996-97, has only 19 km operational out of a 42-km stretch. Similarly, the Darbhanga-Kusheshwar Asthan line sanctioned in 2005-06 under Lalu Prasad remains incomplete. The Sugauli-Hajipur line via Vaishali, sanctioned in 2003-04 when Nitish Kumar was Railways Minister, has reached only Deoria in Muzaffarpur district after 22 years. Locals across these areas express frustration over slow progress, citing lost opportunities for economic development and better connectivity. Projects flagged by the Railway Board often face issues related to expenditure and rate of return. Many remain frozen, under abeyance, or declared unnecessary over the years. As Assembly elections unfold, the incomplete railway network remains a visible reminder of unfulfilled promises.
Delayed Connectivity in Alauli and Kusheshwar Asthan
The Khagaria-Kusheshwar Asthan railway line, announced by Ram Vilas Paswan near his birthplace Saharbanni, has seen minimal progress. Only 19 km between Khagaria and Alauli became operational shortly before the ongoing Assembly elections, months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated it in April. The remaining 23 km to Kusheshwar Asthan remains incomplete. Resident Sushila Devi notes that the railhead on her land now shelters cows and buffaloes instead of trains. The two trains running from Alauli have inconvenient timings and travel slowly. Locals hope for better connectivity to Khagaria and nearby markets, especially given frequent flooding from the Kareh River. The Darbhanga-Kusheshwar Asthan line, sanctioned in 2005-06 at Rs 337 crore under Lalu Prasad, also remains unfinished. Residents rely on buses or the small Harnagar station 8 km away.
Sugauli's Unfinished Link and Broader Railway Stagnation
In East Champaran district, the Sugauli-Hajipur line via Vaishali has awaited completion for over two decades. Sanctioned in 2003-04 at a cost of Rs 2,702 crore when Nitish Kumar led the Railway Ministry, the 151-km line has only reached Deoria in Muzaffarpur after 22 years. The stretch to Sugauli remains under construction. Bharat Prasad, a shopkeeper at Sugauli station, recalls the meter gauge conversion to broad gauge during Paswan's tenure. Other incomplete projects sanctioned by Lalu include Araria-Supaul, Nawad-Laxmipur, Ara-Bhabua Road, and Muzaffarpur-Darbhanga lines. East Central Railways data reveals many projects are under abeyance, frozen, or declared unnecessary due to expenditure and rate of return concerns. A retired Railways official highlights the need to focus on intra-state connectivity rather than only inter-state express trains or Metro projects.
Source: Link