According to Saraswati Chandra, Chief Public Relations Officer of East Central Railway, the new bypass route will eliminate the pressure of freight train operations on the Patna city and Danapur–Patna–Kiul rail corridor. The development is expected to increase track capacity for the introduction of new passenger trains.
The new line will provide an alternative route for freight trains travelling towards Howrah and the Northeast, allowing them to pass through without entering Patna. The proposed freight corridor will run through Neora, Jat Dumri, Daniyawan, Bihar Sharif, Barbi gha, Sheikhpura and Kiul.
At present, the 187-kilometre Danapur–Patna–Kiul–Jhajha section of the Delhi–Howrah main line is heavily congested. Once the new line becomes fully operational, freight trains will be able to avoid Patna Junction and Danapur, helping passenger services maintain their schedules. The additional capacity will also create scope for introducing more passenger trains.
The 42-kilometre Neora–Daniyawan project has been completed by East Central Railway in two phases. The first phase covered the 22.74-kilometre Jata–Duwari–Daniyawan section, where train operations are already underway.
The second phase comprises the 20-kilometre Neora–Jat Dumri section. A speed trial on this stretch was successfully conducted on October 8 at 120 kmph, following which the Commissioner of Railway Safety granted safety clearance.
The project also includes new stations and modern engineering infrastructure to support passenger movement and local connectivity. Gonpur has been developed as a new station, while three new halts—Adhpa, Chamcham and Wajidpur—have been established between Neora Junction on the Patna–Ara rail section and Jat Dumri Junction on the Patna–Gaya rail section.
The 20-kilometre route features three major bridges, 16 minor bridges, five limited-height subways, two road overbridges, one rail-over-rail structure and 12 road underbridges.
With CRS clearance secured for the Neora–Jat Dumri section, the project marks a significant step towards developing an alternative freight corridor around Patna. Its full operationalisation is expected to reduce congestion on the existing rail network and make additional capacity available for passenger train services.
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