Patna, (Bihar Times): Railways have been cynosure of all eyes in Bihar as political bigwigs from the state have traveled extra miles to get a handle over it. Given the socio-economic environment of the state, it was but natural. Other economic ministries do not afford them the same degree of leeway in doing things for their constituents.

However, if we look over our soldier then we find that a lot is still desirable from the railway ministry, first, in terms of pace of implementation and then in terms of some other crucial aspects.  Bihar has a lot many railway tracks announced over the last twelve years. However, implementation has been so sluggish that many of the projects announced as long back as 1997-98 are yet to take off. Timely execution of these projects would have given all important boost to local economy of the state. Same has not been happening though.  Hardly any project has adhered to the time line of two to three years between announcement and implementation, as would have been a reasonable timeline. In the process, these projects have failed to impart the necessary impetus to stagnating state economy.

As of now, it is a bit heartening that production units/ workshop projects planned for the state are on the track and now gathering pace as well. Also satisfactory has been the work on revamping the existing production units and workshops. Some imaginative thoughts have been put in this regard by MR. If things move at the current pace, state will get to see all these units take shape by end of year 2010, just in nick of time for the next assembly election. However, pace of rail road implementation is not so satisfactory and will take much longer time, especially, the ones announced in rail budget 2008-09.   However, one can take satisfaction that these routes will take shape over time, if not by end 2010 then at least by year end 2020, provided that there is no inimical government at the center shelving these projects through certain new policy pronouncements.

Coming to the missing links in the current infrastructure plan, there is this Metro rail/mono rail as also the circular rail plan for Patna metropolitan region.  Though an announcement has been made by MR in regards to Mono Rail, it is yet to get the formal approval of the union cabinet and, as such, seems some distance away. Next in the list is a need to put Bihar on a high speed, high capacity double track rail corridor from Kathmandu to Paradip. This will ultimately link up with Tibet railways once China chooses to extend the same to Kathmandu, which is likely to be quite sooner. Such a corridor will give rise to an unprecedented economic activity in form of trade, tourism and industrial development. Another crucial infrastructure somehow missing in the plans announced so far has been the lack of announcement of adequate number of rail cum road bridges on Ganga, specifically, at certain crucial locations. One of this would be a rail cum road-bridge between Sahibganj and Manihari as demanded by Jhrakhand government and also by JMM, specifically, through their charter of demands on the eve of trust vote. Then there could be some other crucial rail cum road bridges, one between Saran and Aarah (at Doriganj) and another one between Samastipur and Bakhatiyarpur (at Shahpur Patori). The latter one would also be part of the aforesaid corridor between Kathmandu and Paradip. Then there is an emergent need for linking up Saharsa region from Darbhanga with a rail bridge between Mahishi and Kusheshwarsthan. This will provide faster connectivity to Kosi region from the state capital Patna.

Further more, there are certain other desirable actions required on part of the railway administration. One such thing would be to set up a new railway division at Banka to handle the new rail road projects and operation in the region, as coming up under eastern railway.

Overall the progress on railway infrastructure, taking into account all the approved projects, seems quite satisfactory. Off course, speeding up the implementation is the need of the hour.

Status Update:

Production/ Workshop Units:

I.      Jamalpur Workshop: Revamped as manufacturing unit with additional Rs 82 crore Investments.

II.      Bharat Wagon Engineering Limited : Taken over by Railway, Being revamped and revived with additional investment by railway

a.      Mokama

b.      Muzaffarpur

c.      Bela,Muzaffarput

III.      Rail Wheel Factory:  Awarded to L&T for reconstruction at a Cost of approx 1200 Crores.

IV.      Diesel Locomotive Factory: Two company short listed for RFP for selecting PPP 74% partner from among GE (USA) and Electromotive (USA)

V.      Electrical Locomotive Factory; RFP shortlist of three for 74% PPP stake partners from among Bombardier, Siemens and Alstom

VI.      Dalmianagar High Capacity Freight Bogies: RFQ re-invited for PPP partner a week back after vacation of stay by Supreme Court.

VII.      Sonepur Wagon Workshop and DMU workshop: Progressing well – under progress, no recent information available.

VIII.      Garkha Wagon Reconstruction Unit: No Information

IX.      Barh POH: Gathering pace with speeding up of award of various contracts. However, it is puzzling that there is no omnibus (turnkey) contract like that for Wheel factory.

X.      Chaksikandar Sleeper Unit; Seems ready with tenders for operating this unit

XI.      Madhepura Sleeper Unit: No recent info.

XII.      Samastipur wagon factory: Being revamped and capacity increased.

New Rail Lines:

I.      Chhapara- Muzaffarpur : Land acquisition underway

II.      Muzaffarpur- Sitamarhi: Under implementation

III.      Hazipur- Sugauli Double line: Under implementation

IV.      Motihar-Sheohar-Sitamarhi: No Info

V.      Sitamarhi-Sursand-Jaynagar-Nirmali; No info, announced in budget 2008-09

VI.      Muzaffarpur-Janakpur Road: No info, announced in budget 2008-09

VII.      Muzaffarpur-Darbhanga: No info, announced in budget 2008-09

VIII.      Darbhanga-kusheswarsthan-Khagariya,

IX.       Sakari-Baraul-Hasanpur,

X.      Supaul-Araria: No Info

XI.      Araria-Galgalia: No info

XII.      Jalalagrah-Kishnganj: No info, announced in budget 2008-09

XIII.      Bihariganj-Kursela: No info, announced in budget 2008-09

XIV.      Patna-Bihta; No info

XV.      Arrah-Vikramganj (97-98):Implementation

XVI.      Arrah-Bhabhua Road: No info, announced in budget 2008-09

XVII.      Dalmianagar- Banjari: No info, announced in budget 2008-09

XVIII.      Gaya- Chatra: No info, announced in budget 2008-09

XIX.      Gaya-Daltonganj: No info, announced in budget 2008-09

XX.      Rajgir-Tilaiya: Under implementation

XXI.      Nawada-Jhajha-Lakshmipur: No info, announced in budget 2008-09

XXII.       Gaya-Patna Double Line(97-98): under Implementation

XXIII.      Mananpur-Bariyarpur: Under Implementation

XXIV.      Sultanganj-Banka-Deogarh & Barahat-Bitiah: Under implementation

XXV.      Neura-Daniyawan-Biharsharief-Barbigha-Sekhapura: Under Implementation ( some land acquisition also underway)

XXVI.      Maharajganj-Mashrakh

XXVII.      Chhitauni-Tumukahi

 XXVIII.      Hathua-Bhatani

XXIX.      Jhajharpur- Samastipur ( As per some accounts-No confirmation on the same)

XXX.      Sultanganj and Katoria via Asarganj, Tarapore, Belhar (2004-05): No Info

XXXI.      Kiul-Nawadah-Gaya Doubling (Proposed, but status not known)

XXXII.      Masrakh-Rewa Ghat via Taraiya-Amnour (proposed but status not known)

XXXIII.      Valmikinagar-Narkatiaganj-Muzaffarpur doubling(2005-06)(proposed but status not known)

Mega Rail cum Road Bridges: (target completion dates 2010-2012)

I.      Nirmali-Bhapitahi- under implementation (rail bridge Only)

II.      Munger-Khagriya- under implementation

III.      Patna-Sonepur- under implementation (first announced in 97-98)

New Big Project

Dedicated Freight Corridor:  Ludhiana- Sone Nagar

Previously Surveys-fate not known:

I.      Bihariganj-Simribakhtiarpur (updated 2004-05)

II.      Madhepura-Singheshwarasthan-Karjayen-Bhimnagar (updated 2004-05)

III.      Madhuban-Sitamarhi-Bairgnia via Shivpur, Pakri Deal, Dhaka (2005-06)

IV.      Nawadah-Giridih via Satgawan (2005-06)

V.      Kusheshwarsthan-Saharsa(2006-07)

VI.      Bhagwanpur –Samastipur via Mahua , Patepur, Tajpur(2006-07)

VII.      Lalganj-Bachhrawan via Gurubakshganj(2006-07)

VIII.      Gaya-Natesar (2007-08)

IX.      Chakia-Bairgania via Madhuban, Phenhara, Piprahi(2007-08)

New Surveys (2008-09):

I.      Patna Mono Rail

II.      Buxar-Mokama thirdline

III.      Thawe- Motihari-Churadano

IV.      Madhubani-Kamtaul

V.      Maheshkunt-Narainpur via Agwanighat

VI.      Ghogardia-Ghoghepur

VII.      Bahedi-Manjhaul-Rusera Ghat-Barauni

VIII.      Pawapuri-Nawada

IX.      Banka-Jamui

Workshop Project: Fate not Known

- A workshop is to be set up at Barauni to take up ROH of 250 air brake wagons per month at a cost of Rs.25 cr. (announced in budget 1997-98

- Sitamarhi Concrete sleeper unit (2005-06)

 Further Actionable Recommendations:

I.      North South Corridor From Kathmandu to Paradip

II.      Rail Cum Road Bridges:

a.      Aarah-Chhapara (at Doriganj)

b.      Bakhatiyarpur-Samastipur (at Shahpur Patori)

c.      Sahibganj-Katihar ( at Manihari)

d.      Darbhanga-Saharasa( At Kusheshwarsthan)

III.      A New Rail Division at Banka

IV.      A production unit for railway electronic appliances likes signaling and communication systems.

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*A Financial Sector Professional with over 11 years of experience in various streams like Investment Banking, Financial Services and Debt Market Operations.

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