Katihar Junction handles 172 passenger trains daily, government tells Parliament

The question asked the Ministry of Railways to state if plans exist for developing additional infrastructure at Katihar Junction and for new rail connectivity projects linking the Seemanchal region of Bihar with West Bengal and the North-Eastern States.

Asked and answered by: Asked by Shri Rajesh Ranjan (MP); Answered by the Ministry of Railways (Minister Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw).

What the government said

• Katihar Junction currently handles 172 passenger trains and 25 goods trains daily, with 49 lines, 9 platforms, 4 pit lines, and 2 stabling lines.
• Katihar-Kumedpur Doubling (30 Km) and Katihar-Mukuria Doubling (35 Km) are ongoing; specific sections have been commissioned and bridges completed.
• Several projects in the region have been sanctioned, including Aluabari-Thakurganj Doubling (₹326 crore), Thakurganj-Siliguri Doubling (₹916 crore), and Aluabari Road-New Jalpaiguri 3rd & 4th Line (₹1,630 crore).
• Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) have been prepared for Aluabari-Kumedpur 3rd & 4th Line, Malda Town-Kumedpur 3rd & 4th Line, and Goldenganj-Katihar 3rd & 4th Line.
• Katihar Junction is identified for redevelopment under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, with works for platform shelters, surface improvement, and station building improvement already taken up.
• As of 01.04.2026, 27 projects totaling 2,183 Km and costing ₹76,631 crore are sanctioned in the Northeast Frontier Railway zone.
• 98 stations in Bihar, including Katihar Junction, are identified for development under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, with 8 stations in the state already completed.

Also in the document

• The answer provides a detailed list of sanctioned projects and their costs but does not provide a specific completion timeline for the Katihar-Kumedpur and Katihar-Mukuria doubling projects, noting only that certain sections are commissioned.
• The response lists factors affecting project completion (such as land acquisition and clearances) but does not specify the current status of land acquisition for the specific projects mentioned in the question.