Indian Railways has approved a ₹499 crore project to double the 44.40-km Mansi–Saharsa rail section in Bihar, a key freight corridor under East Central Railway, to enhance cargo movement and address rising traffic demand.
The Mansi–Saharsa section, part of the Mansi–Saraigarh route, currently operates as a single-line corridor, handling both passenger and freight services. The route plays a vital role in transporting essential commodities such as wheat, maize, cement, fertilisers, rice, salt, sand, stone, and sugar, making it an important logistics link for the region.
According to Indian Railways, the corridor is operating beyond its designed capacity, with line utilisation reaching 108.11%, which is projected to increase further to 119.34% by 2028–29. The rising utilisation has created operational constraints, affecting train movement and overall network efficiency.
The approved doubling project is expected to significantly improve rail capacity by reducing congestion and eliminating operational bottlenecks. Once completed, the upgraded section will be capable of handling an additional 1.764 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of freight traffic, facilitating faster movement of agricultural produce, construction materials, and industrial cargo.
The investment forms part of Indian Railways’ broader strategy to expand network capacity, strengthen freight infrastructure, and improve logistics efficiency across key economic corridors. By creating additional line capacity, the project is expected to enhance supply chain reliability, support growing freight demand, and improve connectivity for industries and agricultural markets across Bihar and neighbouring regions.
