Vaishnaw meets Nitish, unveils key rly projects | Patna News – Times of India
Patna: Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, who also holds the portfolio of information and broadcasting and electronics and information technology, met CM Nitish Kumar at the latter’s official residence in Patna on Friday. The two leaders held discussions on the progress of ongoing railway projects in the state.Earlier in the day, Vaishnaw visited Jamalpur in Munger district, where he laid the foundation stone for a project to expand the wagon periodical overhauling (POH) capacity at the Jamalpur railway workshop. The ministry of railways, in a statement, said, “The railway minister laid the foundation stone for the Rs 78 crore wagon POH capacity augmentation project at Jamalpur workshop.”The project is expected to increase the POH capacity from 545 to 800 wagons per month, an addition of over 255 wagons, which is expected to improve wagon availability and operational efficiency.During his visit, Vaishnaw inspected various sections of the workshop, including the wagon manufacturing and crane units. “He reviewed the production of BOXN wagons, DLCS wagons and brake vans equipped with toilets. At the crane section, he examined a newly manufactured 140-tonne crane, an eight-wheeler tower car and the Jamalpur Jack, key icons of this workshop,” the statement added.Vaishnaw also visited the Indian Railways Institute of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering (IRIMEE), where he addressed staff and released a booklet outlining plans for the development of infrastructure and training facilities in welding, pneumatics, hydraulics, and mechatronics. The initiative involves an investment of Rs 350 crore.“Our govt, under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi, is working towards a paradigm shift. The railway budget for Bihar has increased from Rs 1,000 crore to Rs 10,000 crore,” the minister said. He also cited upcoming projects such as the redevelopment of 98 railway stations and additional schemes worth Rs 1 lakh crore, along with the laying of 1,832 km of new railway lines in Bihar over the last decade.On his way to Jamalpur, Vaishnaw conducted a window-trailing inspection from Patna and issued directives to railway officials. He was accompanied by Union minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh (Lallan Singh) and Bihar deputy CMs Samrat Chaudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha. At Jamalpur station, he also reviewed redevelopment work worth Rs 30 crore and provided instructions to officials.
