Union Minister of Railways, Communications, Information and Technology, Ashwini Vaishnav, on Saturday inaugurated the Jhanjharpur-Nirmali New Gauge Converted Railway Section (32 km) and Nirmali-Asanpur Kupaha New Rail Line (06 km) through video conferencing from New Delhi. After this, the operation of train services on the new railway section was started by the Railway Minister by flagging off train number 05553 Jhanjharpur-Saharsa DEMU Special as the inaugural special.
On this occasion, Vaishnav, while addressing the dignitaries and people present in Jhanjharpur through video conferencing, said that today is a historic day because today after 88 years a huge problem of this area has been resolved. With the commissioning of this railway line, the long pending demand of the people of both the sides of the Kosi River is being fulfilled. He said that the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India's rise is possible only with the rise of the eastern region. At the same time, he said that Rs 6600 crore has been allocated this year for the development of rail infrastructure and passenger facilities in Bihar.
On this occasion, a function was also organized at Jhanjharpur station in which Energy, Planning and Development Minister, Government of Bihar, Bijendra Prasad Yadav, Transport Minister, Government of Bihar, Sheela Kumari MP, Jhanjharpur, Rampreet Mandlay MP, Supaul, Dileshwar Kamaitay, MP, Madhepura, Dinesh Chandra Yadav, MLA, Jhanjharpur, Nitish Mishra and many other dignitaries were present.
It may be noted that this project is part of 206 km long Sakri-Lauha Bazar-Nirmali and Saharsa-Forbisganj gauge conversion project. The total sanctioned cost of this project is Rs.1584 crores. Along with this, Kosi Megabridge has been constructed at a cost of Rs 491 crore, which was dedicated to the nation on 18th September, 2020 by the Prime Minister. Rs 456 crore has been spent on the construction of 32 km long Jhanjharpur-Nirmali gauge conversion and 06 km long Nirmali-Asanpur Kupaha new railway line. After 88 years with the commissioning of this section, rail connectivity between Mithilanchal divided into two parts will be re-established. This will connect the people of this region to the vast network of railways which will open the door to economic prosperity for the people.
On this newly inaugurated section, three pairs of new DEMU special trains will be operated regularly from 08.05.2022 via Jhanjharpur-Nirmali-Asanpur Kupaha-Saraigarh-Supaul between Laheriasarai and Sarhsa.