Patna: Railway minister Piyush Goyal on Sunday inaugurated several projects from Patna, including train operations on the converted Raxaul-Narkatiaganj gauge section (41km, Rs 172 crore) and operations on the newly built Biraul-Harnagar section (Rs 175.69 crore).

Goyal also inaugurated the new Supaul-Araria section railway line that will benefit people of the two parliamentary constituencies. The Rs 1,605 crore project will offer an alternative all-weather rail route between these two districts. Earlier, flood in the Kosi river used to affect the train service on this section. The 95.556-km-long railway line has important railway stations such as Pipra, Triveniganj, Raaniganj and Araria.

Chief minister Nitish Kumar and Goyal jointly inaugurated these projects through video link by pressing the button at Patna's Bapu Sabhagar in which several Union ministers, including some from Bihar, were present.

At the function, Goyal said the railways had always given importance to women and to pay them more respect, it decided to give them 50 per cent reservation in the recruitment of the Railway Protection Force.

Goyal honoured RPF troop Tejashwini at the programme for its excellence in work, stressing that 50 per cent reservation will ensure safety of children and women on running trains. Tejashwini troops specialise in protecting women.

Sharing the work being carried out in the country, Goyal said closed-circuit television cameras (CCTVs) is being installed at every railway station. Similarly, CCTVs will be installed in major premium and other important trains.

He also announced that pending salary and other allowances of around 500 employees of Bharat Wagon and Engineering Limited (BWEL), Muzaffarpur, had been paid.

Goyal announced that the railways had planned to open a periodic overhauling workshop at Dalmianagar, Rohtas, at a cost of Rs 600 crore apart from opening a Memu maintenance and repair shed at Rs 100 crore in Gaya.