Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Kosi Rail Mahasetu (mega-bridge) via video-conferencing some time ago.
This is a strategic rail bridge along the Indo-Nepal border. It will re-connect the Mithila and Kosi regions of Bihar besides providing an alternative route to the North East.
The distance between Nirmali- Saraigarh will decrease from 298 km to 22 km as a result.
The Prime Minister also flagged a DEMU train between Saharsa- Asanpur Kupha from the Supaul railway station.
Once regular train services resume, the line will benefit the people of Supaul, Arariya and Saharsa districts making travel easier to Kolkata, Delhi and Mumbai.
Cost
The rail link restoration was finally sanctioned by the Government of India in 2003-04 at a sanctioned cost of Rs 323.41 crore. The actual cost was Rs 516.02 crore.
CRS inspection
The first trial run on the bridge happened on June 23, 2020, after the project was completed with help of migrant labour. Following this, the CRS (Commissioner of Railway Safety) inspection of the bridge and the line between Saraigarh –Asanpur Kupha happened on August 13, 2020.
Tirhut Railway
A metre gauge link Nirmali and Bhaptiahi (Saraigarh) was constructed in 1887. The line was a part of the Tirhut Railway Company which was later taken over by the Bengal and Northwestern Railway Company on July 1, 1890.
The railway link was washed away during the heavy flood and severe Indo- Nepal earthquake in 1934.
12 new projects
In addition, the Prime Minister also inaugurated 12 rail projects.
These include -a new railway bridge on the Kiul River; two new railway lines- Hajipur-Ghoswar-Vaishali and Islampur-Nateshar besides five electrification projects- Muzaffarpur- Sitamarhi, Katihar–New Jalpaiguri, Samastipur-Darbhanga-Jaynagar, Samastipur-Khagaria, Bhagalpur-Shivnarayanpur.
PM Modi also opened an electric loco shed at Barauni besides a third line project between Barh-Bakhtiyarpur including the Karnauti- Bakhtiyarpur link bypass.
Railway projects need huge public capital investment and the return may take considerable time if there is potential. In earlier period there used to be detailed survey and discussion at Railway Board and decided. Nowadays huge projects on hilly regions also are decided and given in the media. How it will effect the overall economy of the country and the future of railways is doubtful from the common man’s point of view.
Inaugurating so many projects just before elections by the PM, the top executive in Bihar gives a different image and picture.
We talk of Ram and Ramayan, in which high standards in public life is projected and praised but in actual practice it should be reflected to some degree. These comments may not be to the liking but because this is asked, I am mentioning what I feel