Modi flags off train, kick-starts track doubling, dedicates loco unit to nation in Bihar

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday flagged off a train between Katihar and Old Delhi, dedicated a loco factory in Madhepura to the nation and laid the foundation for track doubling in two sections, in Bihar.

The Prime Minister was in Motihari to attend an event to mark 100 years of Mahatma Gandhi’s Champaran Satyagraha, with the aim of spreading the message of Swachh Bharat.

Mr. Modi laid the foundation stone for for doubling of Muzzafarpur-Sagauli (100.6 km) and Sagauli-Valmikinagar rail sections (109.7 km), flagged off the Champaran Humsafar Express between Katihar and Old Delhi and the first 12,000 hp freight electric locomotive assembled at the Madhepura factory. He also dedicated the first phase of the factory to the nation.

Approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs in February 2018, the Muzzafarpur-Sagauli and Sagauli-Valmikinagar sections are being built at an estimated cost of Rs 2,401 crore and will cover districts of Muzaffarnagar, East Champaran and West Champaran.

The Champaran Humsafar Express will facilitate faster, safer and comfortable journey experience to the common man of north Bihar. The train will run bi-weekly — Tuesdays and Fridays — covering a distance of 1,383 km, an official statement said.

The loco factory in Madhepura, a joint venture between Indian Railways and French manufacturing firm Alstom, has a capacity to manufacture 110 locos per annum. The railways has set a target of manufacturing 800 locos (five assembled and 795 manufactured) over a period of 11 years.