Patna, May 24 — Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, who also handles the ministries of Information & Broadcasting and Electronics & IT, met Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar at his official residence in Patna on Friday. Their meeting centered around reviewing the progress of ongoing railway infrastructure projects in Bihar and exploring ways to further boost rail connectivity in the state.

Foundation Laid for Major Project in Jamalpur

Earlier in the day, Minister Vaishnaw visited the historic Jamalpur Railway Workshop in Munger district, where he laid the foundation stone for a significant expansion of the Wagon Periodical Overhauling (POH) capacity.

• Project Value: ₹78 crore
• Capacity Boost: From 545 to 800 wagons per month
• Objective: Enhance operational efficiency and wagon availability

According to the Railway Ministry, the enhanced POH capacity will ensure quicker turnaround and better logistics performance for Indian Railways.

On-Site Review of Workshop Facilities

During his visit, Vaishnaw took stock of the operational and manufacturing units within the Jamalpur workshop.

• Inspected manufacturing of BOXN wagons, DLCS wagons, and brake vans with toilets
• Reviewed the crane section, which included a newly built 140-tonne crane, an eight-wheeler tower car, and the iconic Jamalpur Jack

He also interacted with engineers and workers, appreciating the legacy and future potential of the facility.

Visit to IRIMEE: New Training Boost Announced

At the Indian Railways Institute of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering (IRIMEE), Vaishnaw addressed faculty and staff. He released a development roadmap for improving technical training at the institute.

• Focus Areas: Welding, pneumatics, hydraulics, and mechatronics
• Investment Announced: ₹350 crore
• Goal: Equip the workforce with advanced industrial skills

Rail Budget for Bihar Sees 10x Growth

Speaking to the media, Vaishnaw highlighted the significant increase in railway investments in Bihar under the Narendra Modi-led government.

“The railway budget for Bihar has jumped from ₹1,000 crore to ₹10,000 crore. This is a reflection of our commitment to transforming infrastructure in the state,” he said.

Upcoming Projects in Bihar

The minister outlined several upcoming and ongoing railway initiatives:

• Redevelopment of 98 stations across Bihar
• Schemes worth ₹1 lakh crore in the pipeline
• 1,832 km of new rail lines laid over the last 10 years

Inspection from Patna to Jamalpur

On his journey from Patna to Jamalpur, Vaishnaw conducted a window-trailing inspection, observing the conditions along the route and issuing instructions to railway officials.

He was accompanied by:

• Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh (Lallan Singh)
• Bihar Deputy CMs Samrat Chaudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha

At Jamalpur railway station, he reviewed redevelopment works worth ₹30 crore and directed officials to ensure timely completion.