Many infrastructure development projects in progress: East Central Railway.

The East Central Railway (ECR) is carrying out infrastructure development and safety works at an estimated outlay of Rs. 4,093 crore in all its five divisions in the ongoing fiscal (2019-20). These works include laying of new lines as well as gauge conversion and track doubling works at different places in Bihar and Jharkhand.

ECR’s chief public relations officer (CPRO) Rajesh Kumar told this newspaper on Monday that the budget allocation for infrastructure development projects in the state increased from Rs. 1,132 crore in 2009-2014 to Rs. 3,061 crore in 2014-19. “The railways completed 318km track work at an average rate of 64km per year during 2009-2014, which included laying of new lines, gauge conversion of tracks and track doubling work,” the CPRO said.

The railways completed 695km track work from 2014-2019, including laying of 240km new lines, 280km gauge conversion and 175km track doubling work at an average rate of 139km per year.

“At present, the ECR is carrying out 55 major projects at different places, including laying of 36 new lines, five gauge conversion and 14 track doubling works at a cost of Rs 71,795 crore, covering a total length of about 4,952km,” Kumar said, adding the railways had allocated Rs 2,403 crore in the current fiscal for completion of these projects.

According to the CPRO, 36 new line projects covering a distance of about 3,008km are being carried out in the state under the infrastructure development plan, of which 472km work has been completed so far, utilizing an estimated outlay of Rs. 13,881 crore till March this year. “Five gauge conversion works covering a total length of 1,007km are being carried out, of which 716km work has been completed at a cost of Rs. 3,772 crore,” the CPRO said.

Meanwhile, the railways has provided Wi-Fi facility at Mahuamilan station of Dhanbad division under the advanced passenger amenities scheme. Kumar said, “The railways has provided free Wi-Fi to 5,500 stations so far across the country since January, 2016.”

TOI