ECR to Lay 400 km Long Third and Fourth Line Between DDU and Jhajha, 17000 Crore Approved

The Eastern Central Railway is going to start the construction of third and fourth railway lines between Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay (DDU) Junction and Jhajha. This project covers about 400 kilometers and aims to reduce train congestion by 40 to 50 percent on this busy route. The work is expected to start in the new financial year, 2026-27, with a massive investment of 17,000 crore rupees.

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Detailed Cost and Section Breakdown of the Project

The Railway Board has sanctioned the work in phases to ensure smooth execution. The first phase covers 104 kilometers, focusing on the high-traffic areas near Patna. The Bihar state government has also agreed to provide the necessary land for the project, especially near Gulzarbagh and Patna Sahib stations. The project has been divided into six distinct sections for better management.

While the DDU to Kiul stretch will have both third and fourth lines, the Kiul to Jhajha section will only see the addition of a third line for now. Preparatory work for land acquisition has already started in several sections.

Expected Impact on Train Speed and Traffic

The main goal of this expansion is to clear the bottleneck on the Delhi-Howrah main line. Currently, many trains are held up because there are not enough tracks to accommodate both express and freight trains. With the new lines, punctuality will improve significantly. On April 4, 2026, the ECR already tested a train at 180 km/h on a nearby section, proving that the zone is preparing for much faster travel times.

• Reduced Congestion: Pressure on existing tracks will drop by nearly half.
• Faster Freight: Goods trains will move faster without blocking passenger routes.
• Better Infrastructure: Includes new elevated roads and modern signaling.
• Budget Support: The Union Budget 2026-27 has allocated over 79,000 crore for new tracks nationwide.