Railways boost: Cabinet okays Rs 2,192 crore project to double Bakhtiyarpur-Rajgir-Tilaiya line; move to aid freight, pilgrims and local economy

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved the doubling of the 104 km Bakhtiyarpur–Rajgir–Tilaiya railway line in Bihar at an estimated cost of Rs 2,192 crore.The project will expand the Indian Railways network across four districts and improve connectivity to important destinations such as Rajgir, Nalanda and Pawapuri, which draw pilgrims and tourists from across the country.The multi-tracking initiative will directly benefit 1,434 villages and nearly 13.5 lakh people, including residents of the Aspirational Districts of Gaya and Nawada. The section is also critical for the movement of coal, cement, clinker and fly ash, with freight traffic expected to rise by 26 million tonnes per annum once the project is completed, according to the government release.The capacity augmentation is projected to reduce oil imports by 5 crore litres and cut carbon emissions by 24 crore kg, equivalent to planting one crore trees. Officials said this will make rail operations more efficient, cost-effective and environmentally sustainable.The doubling is expected to ease congestion, improve mobility and enhance service reliability on one of the busiest railway corridors. The government said the project is aligned with the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, which aims to strengthen multi-modal connectivity and improve logistics efficiency through integrated planning.The project is also expected to generate employment and self-employment opportunities in the region, contributing to the government’s vision of making communities more self-reliant.