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Patna : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 18, 2020, dedicated the historic Kosi Rail Mahasetu to the Nation and inaugurated new Rail Lines and Electrification Projects in Bihar for the benefit of passengers through video conference.
Speaking on the occasion, PM Modi said a new history has been created in the field of rail connectivity in Bihar. He said projects worth about Rs 3,000 crore like inauguration of Kosi Mahasetu and Kiul Bridge, electrification projects, promotion of Make in India in Railways, and a dozen of new job creating projects were launched today. These projects will not only strengthen Bihar’s rail network but also strengthen West Bengal and Eastern India’s rail connectivity.
Phagu Chauhan, Governor of Bihar, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, Piyush Goyal, Minister of Railways and Commerce & Industry, Ravi Shankar Prasad, Minister of Law and Justice, Communications, Giriraj Singh, Minister of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries, Nityanand Rai, Minister of State for Home Affairs, and Bihar Deputy CM Sushil Modi, joined the historic occasion.
Apart from Kosi Rail Mahasetu Bridge, the Prime Minister also inaugurated other rail projects related to passenger facilities for the benefit of the Bihar State. They include
• New Electric Locomotive Shed at Barauni
• A new railway bridge on Kiul River,
• 5 Electrification projects: Muzaffarpur – Sitamarhi, Katihar–New Jalpaiguri, Samastipur-Darbhanga-Jaynagar, Samastipur-Khagaria, and Bhagalpur- Shivnarayanpur Sections.
• Karnauti- Bakhtiyarpur link bypass and 3rd line between Barh-Bakhiyarpur
• New bridge on River Kiul and Electric Interlocking
The Prime Minister said many parts of Bihar are cut off from each other due to many rivers crisscrossing the state and people have to undertake long journeys due to this. He said four years ago, construction of two Mahasetu was started in Patna and in Munger, to solve this problem. Now due to the commissioning of these two rail bridges, the travel between North and South Bihar has eased, according to a PIB release..
The PM said a severe earthquake which occurred eight and a half decades ago isolated the Mithila and Kosi region and it is a coincidence that both the regions are being interlinked in the midst of a pandemic like Corona. He added that today the Supaul-Asanpur- Kupha rail route is dedicated to the nation due to the hard work of the migrant labourers who were also involved in the construction of the bridge. He said this new Kosi rail line was envisaged in 2003 when Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the Prime Minister and Nitish Kumar was the Railway Minister.He said this project was fast paced during the present Government and work has been completed on Supaul-Asanpur Kupaha route using modern technology.
The PM Modi said today a new rail service commencing between Supaul-Asanpur via Kosi Mahasetu will greatly benefit the people of Supaul, Araria, and Saharsa districts. This would also make an alternative rail route to the people of the North East. He said with this Mahasetu the journey of 300 km is reduced to 22 km and will also promote business and employment in this entire region.
The Prime Minister said for the past 6 years, efforts are being made to shape the Indian Railways as per the aspirations of a new India and fulfill the expectations of a ‘AtmaNirbhar Bharat’. He added Indian Railways have been made safer than ever by eliminating unmanned rail crossings from the broad gauge rail lines.
In the last few years, to promote Make in India, Electric loco factory has been set up in Madhepura and Diesel loco factory in Marhaura, Saran, the PM said. In both these projects, almost Rs 44,000 crore have been invested. He said people of Bihar would be proud that the most powerful electric locomotive in India – 12,000 horsepower locomotive- is manufactured in Bihar.He said with the introduction of Hajipur – Ghoswar – Vaishali rail line, Delhi and Patna will be connected by direct rail service.This service will give a lot of boost to tourism in Vaishali and new jobs will be created.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister of Railways and Commerce & Industry Piyush Goyal said that Completion of Kosi Mahasetu has been achieved under the guidance of PM Modi . He said that Maha setu will act as catalyst to the growth of agriculture and economy of Bihar.
CM Nitish Kumar thanked Indian Railways for completion of project and taking up other development of initiatives in the state. He especially thanked Railways for helping the natives of Bihar in coming back to their homes by running of trains for them in adverse circumstances.
In 1887, a meter gauge link was built between Nirmali and Bhaptiahi (Saraigarh). During the heavy flood and severe Indo Nepal earthquake in 1934, the rail link was washed away and thereafter due to meandering nature of river Kosi no attempt was made to restore this Rail link for long period. The Kosi Rail Mahasetu is 1.9 km long and its construction cost is Rs 516 Crore. This bridge is of strategic importance along the India-Nepal border. The dedication of this project will fulfil the 86 year old dream and the long wait of the people of the region.
Along with the dedication of the Mahasetu, the Prime Minister also flagged off the Supaul- Raghopura DEMU train from Supaul Station.