The Patna Junction-Digha Ghat rail line. Picture by Ashok Sinha

Patna, March 6: The state government and Indian Railways have apparently thrashed out a way to resolve the impasse over the proposed conversion of the 8-km Patna Junction-Digha Ghat rail line into a four-lane road.

According to sources, the railways has proposed to accept the state’s offer to take 84 acres of land in small clusters in and around Patna and Hajipur in lieu of the Digha tracks for the 8-km road.

At a meeting held yesterday among chief secretary Navin Kumar, East Central Railway (ECR) general manager Varun Bharthuar and other senior state officials, the railways appeared ready to accept 84 acres of land in smaller clusters. “The railway wants to develop residential societies for its employees on such land. The government is considering the proposal and is likely to take a decision soon,” a senior state government officer today said.

Danapur division public relations officer R.K. Singh said a passenger train at present makes four trips along the eight-km route a day.

The train leaves Patna Junction for Digha Ghat, while the return trip is extended to Patna City. Sources said not many passengers take the train.

The state has been, for three years, requesting the railway ministry to part with the 8-km track for the construction of the four-lane road. Chief minister Nitish Kumar had during a visit to New Delhi on August 31, 2009, requested then railway minister Mamata Banerjee to hand over the Patna-Digha rail line to the state.