The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved the doubling of the Bakhtiyarpur-Rajgir-Tilaiya single railway line section in Bihar at an estimated cost of Rs 2,192 crore.
The project spans four districts of Bihar and will add 104 km to the Indian Railways network. It will significantly improve rail connectivity to major destinations such as Rajgir (home to Shanti Stupa), Nalanda, and Pawapuri, which attract pilgrims and tourists from across the country.
According to the Railways ministry, the project will benefit around 13.46 lakh people across approximately 1,434 villages, including those in the aspirational districts of Gaya and Nawada.
The doubling of the line is expected to boost freight capacity, facilitating the transport of coal, cement, clinker, fly ash, and other commodities. The project is projected to generate an additional 26 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of freight traffic, reducing congestion and improving service reliability on one of Indian Railways’ busiest sections.
The initiative is also expected to yield significant environmental benefits, reducing oil imports by 5 crore litres and cutting 24 crore kg of CO₂ emissions — equivalent to planting one crore trees.
Planned under the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, the project aims to enhance multimodal connectivity, improve logistics efficiency, and support economic development in the region. The government expects it to create employment and self-employment opportunities, contributing to the vision of making the region Atmanirbhar.