Bihar Rail Network to Expand with New Depot and Upgrades

13 Apr 2026 CW Team

Under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, 22 stations will be redeveloped at an estimated cost of Rs 5,136.1 mn and the division is planning third and fourth lines between Pt Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction and Jhajha. A dual track railway bridge over the Ganga at Mokama is expected to be operational by June. A 17.47 km section between Asthawan and Sarsa Jamalpur has been completed, enabling services on the Biharsharif–Sheikhpura route.

To address peak demand, officials said 518 pairs of special trains were introduced and 2,262 additional coaches were attached to existing services, while 52 new trains have been launched. Stoppages were added at 77 stations and pendulum passenger trains on the Patna–Buxar and Danapur–Jhajha routes have proved popular with commuters. Passenger amenities including lifts and escalators at Patna Junction have been expanded and work has begun at Ara Depot on a machine learning based server and Internet of Things integration for coaches.

The Danapur division reported earnings of Rs 23,626.3 mn in 2025–26, a rise of 4.39 per cent year-on-year, with passenger revenue at Rs 19,789.1 mn, freight at Rs 1,627.1 mn and other coaching income at Rs 1,786.5 mn. Crackdowns on ticketless travel yielded fines of Rs 624.5 mn from 1.285 mn passengers. Green initiatives saw 90,000 saplings planted and solar use generated savings of more than Rs 3.5 mn, while healthcare services at Danapur Railway Hospital were upgraded with digital X rays, ultrasound and complete blood count facilities. A 24×7 operations war room and staff training programmes have been established to monitor and improve passenger service.

Railway officials said plans are under consideration to develop a new coaching complex at either Biharsharif or Sheikhpura to strengthen maintenance capacity on the Gaya route. A parallel proposal has been submitted to the Railway Board for a modern coaching depot at Fatuha estimated to cost Rs 4,950 million (mn). The projects form part of a wider programme to enhance operational resilience across the Danapur division. Officials indicated the works will support turnaround of an expanding fleet. Under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, 22 stations will be redeveloped at an estimated cost of Rs 5,136.1 mn and the division is planning third and fourth lines between Pt Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction and Jhajha. A dual track railway bridge over the Ganga at Mokama is expected to be operational by June. A 17.47 km section between Asthawan and Sarsa Jamalpur has been completed, enabling services on the Biharsharif–Sheikhpura route. To address peak demand, officials said 518 pairs of special trains were introduced and 2,262 additional coaches were attached to existing services, while 52 new trains have been launched. Stoppages were added at 77 stations and pendulum passenger trains on the Patna–Buxar and Danapur–Jhajha routes have proved popular with commuters. Passenger amenities including lifts and escalators at Patna Junction have been expanded and work has begun at Ara Depot on a machine learning based server and Internet of Things integration for coaches. The Danapur division reported earnings of Rs 23,626.3 mn in 2025–26, a rise of 4.39 per cent year-on-year, with passenger revenue at Rs 19,789.1 mn, freight at Rs 1,627.1 mn and other coaching income at Rs 1,786.5 mn. Crackdowns on ticketless travel yielded fines of Rs 624.5 mn from 1.285 mn passengers. Green initiatives saw 90,000 saplings planted and solar use generated savings of more than Rs 3.5 mn, while healthcare services at Danapur Railway Hospital were upgraded with digital X rays, ultrasound and complete blood count facilities. A 24×7 operations war room and staff training programmes have been established to monitor and improve passenger service.

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