Katihar, Oct. 30: Chief minister Nitish Kumar flagged off the first train on Katihar-Manihari section of Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) from Katihar Junction here today.

The laying of railway tracks between Katihar, 320km from the state capital, and Manihari, was over about 10 months ago, while safety clearance for the section came in June.

Nitish said: “I took the initiative to start trains on the Katihar-Manihari section after I came to know that the railway tracks had been ready for quite some time. I am happy that the service is inaugurated on the eve of Chhath.”