Indian Railways has approved a Rs 976-crore multitracking project on the 29-km Danapur–Fatuha section of the East Central Railway in Bihar, aimed at enhancing rail capacity, easing congestion and improving the movement of passenger and freight trains along the busy Patna rail corridor.
The project includes the construction of third and fourth railway lines between Danapur and Patna, a third line between Rajendra Nagar and Patna Saheb, and third and fourth lines between Patna Saheb and Fatuha. The additional infrastructure is expected to decongest the route, reduce operational delays and improve train punctuality across the Patna region.
According to Indian Railways, the project will enable the operation of 22 additional passenger trains and 18 additional freight trains per day during its first year of service. It is also expected to facilitate the transportation of an additional 5.2 million tonnes of freight annually.
The Danapur–Fatuha multitracking project is part of the larger rail capacity enhancement programme on the Delhi–Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction–Patna–Kiul–Bhagalpur–Khana–Howrah route. The corridor has been identified under Indian Railways’ Energy, Mineral and Cement Corridor, which is aimed at strengthening freight movement for key industrial sectors.
The upgraded section will also support freight transportation for the upcoming 2,120 MW thermal power plant at Chausa in Bihar’s Buxar district, which is expected to rely on rail connectivity for the movement of bulk raw materials and other inputs.
The approval is part of Indian Railways’ ongoing efforts to expand capacity on high-density routes, strengthen logistics infrastructure for the energy and industrial sectors, and support the socio-economic development of Bihar.
