Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate several rail projects of Varanasi Division of North Eastern Railway (NER) including Ghazipur City-Aunrihar section from Varanasi, doubling of Aunrihar-Jaunpur section and electrification of Bhatni-Aunrihar rail section during his visit to this holy city on July 7. These projects will increase the speed of trains on this railway section apart from greatly benefiting the local commuters.
The construction of a metre gauge rail line from Ghazipur Ghat to Aurnihar was completed in 1903. In view of the problems faced by long distance passengers in changing trains due to the multi-gauge system being in vogue, the policy of Uni-gauge was adopted on Indian Railways . In the year 1997, gauge conversion of Ghazipur City-Aunrihar section (40 km) was completed.
The doubling of this section was approved by the Ministry of Railways in view of the pressure of traffic due to increase in the number of trains and a project of Rs 360 crore for doubling the tracks up to Aurnihar, Nandganj, Taraon, Ankushpur and Ghazipur City stations was sanctioned. With the completion of this project, the traffic pressure on Pt Deendayal Upadhyay Junction-Prayagraj section will be reduced. At the same time, connectivity to Sarnath and Varanasi will improve, as a result of which tourism in Aunrihar, Sarnath and Varanasi areas will get a boost.
The doubling and electrification of Aunrihar-Jaunpur railway section (60 km) was completed at a cost of Rs 482 crore. Passing through Ghazipur and Jaunpur districts, this doubled section has Aunrihar, Faridha, Dudhonda, Dobhi, Kerakat, Gangauli, Muftiganj, Yadvendra Nagar and Jaunpur stations. With the completion of this doubling project, the traffic pressure on Pt Deendayal Upadhyay Junction- Prayagraj section will reduce. The passengers going to Eastern India, especially Northeast India, Bihar and West Bengal will be greatly benefited. With the electrification of this section, there will be reduction in diesel consumption along with movement of fast trains, which will result in saving of foreign exchange spent on diesel import. Besides, the electrification of Bhatni-Aunrihar section (125 km) was completed at a cost of Rs 238 crore. This section passes through Deoria, Mau and Ghazipur districts including stations of Pivkol, Salempur, Lar Road, Turtipar, Belthara Road, Govindpur Dubowli, Kediharapur Chakra Road, Indara, Mau, Paniyara, Pipridih, Nayakdih, Dullahpur, Jakhanian, Hurmuzpur Sadat, Mahpur and Aunrihar stations and after the inauguration, electric locomotive driven trains will be operated on this section also.
