There is a ray of hope for starting operations at Patliputra Junction, yet again.

After missing several deadlines, the Indian Railways has decided to hand over 1.5 acres to the state government for constructing a road. Sources said the absence of the stretch was not allowing the station to start operations. The decision to hand over land was taken recently during a high-level meeting between the state government and railway officials.

The state government is ready to pay compensation to the railways for the land.

Two weeks back, chief minister Nitish Kumar held a meeting with East Central Railway general manager A.K. Mittal where he gave instructions to speed up work related to functioning of Patliputra Junction. Later, Mittal met chief secretary Anjani Kumar Singh in this regard.

The meetings appear to have put the railway station project back on track.

Patliputra Junction - ready for use for the past two years - has seen several postponements vis-à-vis its inauguration. It was scheduled to be inaugurated in April 2013, which was postponed to August, 2013. Three postponements followed - September 6, 2013, October 31, 2013 and October 2, 2014 - but the station remained unused.

Situated 12km northwest of Patna Junction, Patliputra Junction can help ease pressure on the other two terminals through which around 350 trains pass daily.

The railways could not make this junction operational owing to agitation by residents of Rupaspur and Jalalpur villages, who are demanding repair of a road along the track that passes through their locality. The railways refused to repair the road, claiming it was not supposed to construct roads.

A senior railway official said: "It was agreed that railways would assess the land near the tracks after which an estimate would be prepared. We have assessed land cost, which comes to around Rs 10 crore. The state government would pay the amount and then they can repair the road."

The official added: "We would send the assessment report to the Railway Board in the next 10 days. The board is the final authority to give their observation on the report. We're hopeful the board would reply within a month. After that, it would be up to the state government to transfer the amount to railways and take possession of the land."

On the stand of the state government over the land cost, chief secretary Anjani Kumar Singh said: "The railways has conducted assessment of the land. The state government is serious on this matter and we would give money to the railways as this project is very important for residents."