East Central Railway has announced that capacity expansion work on the critical Jhajha-Deen Dayal Upadhyay (DDU) section via Patna, including the addition of third and fourth lines, will commence from March 2026 as part of a ₹17,000 crore project approved by the Railway Board. The ambitious 400 km infrastructure upgrade aims to alleviate severe congestion on the busy Howrah-Delhi main line, where over 290 trains operate daily on the existing double-line track originally constructed between 1860 and 1870. Officials noted that current operations far exceed the section's capacity, leading to challenges in maintenance, punctuality, and seamless freight movement.

Chief Public Relations Officer Saraswati Chandra explained that the new lines, combined with the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor, will significantly enhance track capacity, enabling additional train services, higher speeds, and improved reliability. The project is expected to ease bottlenecks at key stations like Jhajha, a major British-era stoppage at the tail end of the Danapur division, where new third and fourth lines are likely to become operational by early next year.

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Land acquisition processes are underway, with a private company tasked with the work, including extensions in the Jhajha-Kiul section. Initial phases cover Bakhtiyarpur-Fatuha (24 km) and Bakhtiyarpur-Punarkh (30 km), while approvals for the Punarkh-Kiul (₹2,514 crore) and Kiul-Jhajha (₹903 crore) segments are in the final stages. Some small station buildings may be demolished or upgraded, and two stabling lines between Danapur and Patna will be removed to accommodate the new tracks due to land constraints around Patna.

The expansion is poised to boost stoppages and maintenance facilities at Jhajja, where sufficient railway land is available, while supporting broader goals of efficient passenger and freight operations on one of India's most vital rail corridors. Upon completion, the upgraded infrastructure is expected to transform train movement on this overburdened route, marking a significant step in modernising a historic railway section to meet contemporary demands.

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