Patna, Feb. 25: Bihar had reasons to cheer for in the rail budget tabled in the Lok Sabha today.

The state got Rs 3,171 crore for various projects to be implemented in the coming financial year (2016-17). Sharing details, East Central Railway (ECR) general manager A.K. Mittal said in percentage terms that Bihar has got 29 per cent more funds than what it had been allocated for the current fiscal.

Allocation of funds for new railway tracks, doubling of some of the existing tracks and electrification of tracks are the highlights for Bihar.

The new railway track would come up between Pirpainti-Naugachiya (18km). It has been a long pending demand of eastern Bihar districts and would provide better connectivity for those living in the Bhagalpur region.

In case of doubling of tracks, beneficiaries would be Sugauli-Valmikinagar (109.7km), Gaya-Manpur (2km), Muzaffarpur-Sugauli (100.6km) among others. The stretch between Muzaffarpur and Valmikinagar via Sugauli is of great importance for residents of north Bihar districts as after construction of Chitanui bridge near Bagaha in the first half of 1990s in West Champaran district, several new trains, which travel to Delhi and other north India destinations pass through this track. The existing single line adversely hits the movement of existing trains and the doubling of trains, would help in running trains of time and also improve of the frequency of some of the existing trains, said a source in the railways.

As regards electrification, funds for which were sanctioned today, the beneficiaries would be mainly in eastern and northern parts of the state. The tracks, which would be electrified are Mansi-Sahrasha (172km), Ara-Sasaram (97km), Darbhanga-Jainagar (81km), Raxaul-Sitamarhi-Darbhanga-Samastipur (231km) and Kaptanganj-Thave-Kariya-Chhapra-Kachari (206km).

Mittal said electrification of railway tracks between Mansi-Saharsha would be beneficial for upcoming locomotive factories in Madhepura.

As reported earlier, the Indian Railways has signed an agreement with private firms for setting up an electrical locomotive factory in Madhepura, which would be constructed in a public-private-partnership mode. In the kitty of railway budget, Mittal said survey for three new lines has been sanctioned, which include Dehri-On-Sone-Bunathpur (39km), Madhubani-Benipatti-Pupri (45km) and Sitamarhi-Jankarpur via Bathnaha (45km).

In the railway budget, funds have also been sanctioned for ongoing projects. One of the important among them is the railway bridge across river Ganga in Munger.

"For passenger amenities, the railways has sanctioned Rs 50.53 crore and for improving the signalling system, a sum of Rs 38.64 crore has been sanctioned. Apart from this, the railways has decided to undertake work on priority basis for those stations important from a pilgrimage point of view. Work on passenger amenities and beautification on stations at pilgrimage centres would take place on Biharsharif, Gaya and Parasnath railway station. The ministry has also decided to run Aastha circuit trains to connect important pilgrim centres," Mittal said.

The railway budget has also sanctioned funds for 25 new road overbridges (ROBs) and four new road underbridge for the state.

Asked about four new categories of trains and their benefit for Bihar, Mittal said that too would also run. The railways has introduced Humsafar, Tejas, Uday and Antyodaya trains.

Among the four trains, Tejas would run at a speed of 130kmph.