General Manager of East Central Railway, Anupam Sharma on Wednesday reviewed the work progress of new line, doubling, gauge conversion and other construction projects of ECR costing more than Rs. 500 crore in the high level review meeting organized at Mahendughat, Patna. In the meeting, the GM reviewed the construction organization of ECR and various railway projects of Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL). In order to review the projects, the GM directed to complete the works related to construction projects and railway development on priority.
In the review meeting, through a power point presentation, the achievements of the construction department of ECR and the goals set for the future were appraised to the GM. He reviewed the work progress of about 291 km long Sonnagar-Patratu triple line project, Neura-Daniawa new line project, Muzaffarpur-Valmikinagar doubling, Jhanjharpur-Laukhabazar, Jhanjharpur-Nirmali, Saharsa-Forbisganj gauge conversion project and other rail projects.
Addressing the meeting, the GM said, “We have to make maximum use of new technology in each and every area of the Railways so that we can give better results by meeting the expectations of the people.” He directed for regular and thorough monitoring of the ongoing construction projects in ECR so that all the construction work could be completed on time.
The GM reviewed the ongoing infrastructural improvement work to increase the speed of trains from 130 to 160 kmph on Grand Chord railway section in Dhanbad and Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay division. In order to improve the infrastructure, provision is being made for earthwork, ballast, thick web switch etc. Yard remodeling work will be completed; electronic interlocking and European Train Control System (ETCS) standards will be installed. These also include works like renovation of railway tracks, upgradation of rail bridges, modernisation of signaling system. It may be noted that the railway track from Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Junction to Jhajha and Dhanbad has been allowed to run trains at a speed of 130 kmph in the first phase.
The total cost of Sakri-Nirmali, Jhanjharpur-Louha Bazar and Saharsa-Forbisbanj (206 km) gauge conversion project is Rs.1468 crore. The construction work of about 210 km long Muzaffarpur-Sagauli-Valmikinagar doubling project is also in progress. The Muzaffarpur-Sagauli-Valmikinagar doubling project is estimated to cost about Rs 2402 crore.