North Bihar Rail Boost: Lalitgram-Birpur, Sitamarhi-Narmali Lines Approved

• The Railway Board has approved the strategically important Lalitgram-Birpur (22 km) and Sitamarhi-Jayanagar-Narmali (188 km) rail lines in North Bihar.
• Bihar's Energy and Planning & Development Minister, Vijendra Prasad Yadav, spearheaded the initiative, leading to the fast-tracking of these projects.
• The Lalitgram-Birpur line, near the India-Nepal border, is crucial for defense and trade; tenders for its DPR survey are due by January 8, 2026.
• The Sitamarhi-Jayanagar-Narmali project, stalled since 2019, was 'de-frozen' on September 29, 2025, with tenders for a new survey by December 31, 2025.
• These rail lines are expected to boost cross-border trade, tourism, market access for farmers, and create local employment opportunities.

Why It Matters: North Bihar's rail connectivity is set for a major upgrade with two key lines approved, promising economic growth.