The Prime Minister Shri NarendraModi shall dedicate to the nation the historic Kosi Rail Mega bridge to the Nation through video-conference at 12 Noon on the 18th of September 2020.

Shri Phagu Chauhan, Governor of Bihar, Shri Nitish Kumar, Chief Minister, Bihar, Central Ministers, Shri PiyushGoyal, Minister of Railways  and Commerce & Industry, Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad, Hon’ble Minister of Law and Justice, Communications, Electronics and information Technology, Shri Giriraj Singh, Hon’ble Minister of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries, Shri NityanandRai, Hon’ble Minister of State for Home Affairsand   Shri SushilModi, Dy Chief Minister, Bihar are also slated to join this occasion.

Apart from Kosi Rail Mega Bridge, the Prime Minister shall also inaugurate other rail projects related to passenger facilities for the benefit of the Bihar State. These include a new railway bridge on the Kiul River, two new railway lines, 5 Electrification projects, one Electric Locomotive Shed at Barauni and 3rd Line Project between Barh-Bakhtiyarpur.

The dedication of the Kosi Rail Mahasetu is a watershed moment in the history of Bihar and the entire region connecting to the North East. In 1887, a meter gauge link was built in between Nirmali and Bhaptiahi (Saraigarh). During the heavy flood and severe Indo Nepal earthquake in 1934, the rail link was washed away and thereafter due to meandering nature of river Kosi no attempt was made to restore this Rail link for long period.

The Kosi Mega Bridge line project was sanctioned by Government of India during 2003-04. The Kosi Rail Mahasetu is 1.9 KM long and its construction cost is Rs. 516 Crore. This bridge is of strategic importance along the India-Nepal border. The project was completed during the COVID-Pandemic where the migrant labour also participated in its completion.

The dedication of this project will fulfil the 86 year old dream and the long wait of the people of the region.

Along with the dedication of the Mahasetu, the Prime Minister shall also be flagging off the Supaul- Raghopura DEMU train from the Supaul Station. Once the regular train service begins, this would prove to be highly beneficial to the Supaul, Arariya and Saharsa districts. It would also make it easy for long distance travel to Kolkata, Delhi and Mumbai for the people of the region.

The Prime Minister shall also be inaugurating two New Line projects at Hajipur-Ghoswar-Vaishali and Islampur-Nateshar. Shri Modi shall also be inaugurating the Karnauti-Bakhtiyarpur link bypass and 3rd line between Barh-Bakhiyarpur.

The Prime Minister shall also be inaugurating the Railway Electrification projects of Muzaffarpur – Sitamarhi, Katihar–New Jalpaiguri, Samastipur-Darbhanga-Jaynagar, Samastipur-Khagaria, Bhagalpur-Shivnarayanpur Sections.

*****

DJN/MKV