Railway Board Chairman reviews project work progess in Bihar

Patna, Mar 18 (UNI) Railway Board Chairman K C Jena today reviewed the progress of Rs 4,500 crore worth ongoing projects in Bihar at a meeting with senior East Central Railway (ECR)officials here.

Dr Jena, who arrived here this morning on a two-day visit to the state, reviewed the progress of different ongoing railway projects in Bihar and expressed happiness at the increased revenue being generated every year by the ECR since its creation about three years ago.

He said keeping in mind that as many as five major railway divisions, namely Danapur, Dhanbad, Samastipur, Sonepur and Mughalsarai, had been put under the ECR, the Railway Ministry had announced a number of mega projects in the state during its 2008-09 budget proposals.

Accordingly, he said, a diesel locomotive factory would be set up at Marhaura in Saran district at an estimated cost of Rs 2,025 crore, besides constructing an electric locomotive factory at Madhepura at a cost of Rs 1,300 crore.

A high speed train wheel factory would come up at Chapra at a cost of about Rs 880 crore, a railway coach maintenance workshop at Harnaut for Rs 225 crore, a goods wagon repair factory and a DEMU maintenance depot at Sonepur at an estimated cost of about Rs 105 crore, Dr Jena said and hoped that work of every project would be completed well within time.

The Railways had also decided to construct a super facility 100 bed hospital near the Patna junction station within the next two years to meet the long standing demand for the railway families here, the Railway Board Chairman said and emphasised the need to improve the safety and security of passengers not only in Bihar but across the country.

Dr Jena, accompanied by ECR General Manager and several other Railway Board members, is scheduled to visit a number of project sites tomorrow to see for themselves the progress of work.

UNI ABA DPM LS BST1509