Jamalpur (Munger): The Union ministry of environment and forest has cleared the decks for work to begin on a second tunnel on the mountainous railway track at Kali Pahari that would help ensure smooth train traffic on the century-old Kiul-Sahebganj loop section.

The tunnel will come up near Jamalpur railway station falling under Munger district. As of now, the picturesque section has the 157-year-old Bariakol tunnel, said to be an engineering marvel.

The project was hanging fire for the past few years as it awaited clearance from the central ministry. The no-objection certificate has now come through.

"We managed to obtain the NOC from the forest department which was one of the main hurdles for the project. The tendering process has also been completed ," said Jitendra Kumar, deputy chief engineer, Jamalpur.

Owing to heavy traffic on the route, the railways have been trying to carry out double-tracking on the section. "Double tracking work is over between Kiul and Bhagalpur, as well as from Pirpainty to Sahebganj. Work has started on the Pirpainty to Bhagalpur section also. But due to single track passing through the Bariakol tunnel, movement of trains on this section gets affected. We have to stop trains either at Ratanpur or Jamalpur to pass a train through this tunnel. So another tunnel is essential but due to delay in obtaining NOC from the forest department, this project was lying idle for the last three to four years," said a top source in Eastern Railway under whose jurisdiction the area falls.

The Kiul-Sahebganj section of Eastern Railway with 50 railway bridges has been a risky ride for passengers. The bridges were built during the British era and more than 40 trains, including the superfast ones, have been running on the old bridges daily.

This section was constructed between 1860 and 1870 and is among the oldest tracks in the country. Railway officials admitted that the bridges had become old and should be replaced.

The section passes through the Bariakol tunnel between Ratanpur and Jamalpur stations in Munger. Trains enter the tunnel cautiously, at a speed of 50km/hr. Similarly, trains passing on the old bridges need to maintain caution, pointed out some local engine drivers.

The Bariakol tunnel was constructed in 1860 and is among the four oldest railway tunnels in the country constructed by the British.

Sources said the location of the second tunnel would be some 25 metres south of the Bariakol tunnel towards the diesel shed of the Jamlapur railway workshop. "We have to be very careful while carrying out blasting work to carve out the new tunnel. We have to keep in mind there should not be any effect on the existing tunnel," said a source.