With assembly elections approaching in Bihar, Prime
Minister Narendra Modi is slated to unveil the Kosi rail mega bridge via video conferencing
on Friday. He will also inaugurate 12 rail projects related to passenger
facilities in the state.

PM Modi has launched or
inaugurated a number of developmental projects in Bihar over the past few days,
with PTI quoting sources to estimate the cost of the projects to be around Rs 16,000 crore.

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On Wednesday,
the Prime Minister’s office described the ‘Kosi Rail Mahasetu’ as historic,
saying it is a watershed moment as it will improve connectivity of the state to
North Eastern parts of the country.

The PMO
said that a meter gauge link was built between Nirmali and Bhaptiahi in 1887, although
it was washed away due to heavy floods and severe Indo-Nepal earthquake in
1934. No attempt was made to restore the rail connectivity for a long period
owing to the meandering nature of the Kosi river.

The mega
bridge project, which is 1.9 km long and cost Rs 516 crore, was sanctioned by
the Union government during 2003-04.

“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 statement read.

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The
remaining rail projects, which will also be inaugurated by Modi, include a new
railway bridge on the Kiul river, two new railway lines, five electrification projects,
one electric locomotive shed and third line project between Barh and Bakhtiyarpur.

The Kosi rail
mega bridge will fulfil an 86-year-old dream and end a long wait for the people
of the region, the PMO said.

Modi will
also inaugurate the Saharsa-Asanpur Kupha train from the Supaul station.

Upon
resumption of regular train services, this would come to be highly beneficial to
the districts of Suapaul, Arariya and Saharsa districts, making it easier for
those travelling to metro cities such as Kolkata, Delhi and Mumbai.

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The prime
minister will also inaugurate the railway electrification projects of Muzaffarpur–
Sitamarhi, Katihar–New Jalpaiguri, Samastipur-Darbhanga-Jaynagar,
Samastipur-Khagaria, and Bhagalpur-Shivnarayanpur sections.

Polls for
Bihar’s 243 constituencies are slated to be held in October-November, with the Election
Commission expected to announce the schedule later this month.