Buxar: The Ballia–Dumraon–Dehri Rail Line Construction Struggle Committee on Wednesday submitted a fresh memorandum to former Ballia BJP MP Virendra Singh Mast after receiving encouraging signals from the railway ministry regarding a detailed examination of the proposed Ballia–Dumraon–Dehri-on-Sone rail line.Earlier, the committee had raised the demand through Ballia Samajwadi Party MP Sanatan Pandey. In his response to Pandey, railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said instructions had been issued to the directorate concerned to conduct a detailed study of the new line between Ballia and Dehri-on-Sone via Dumraon and Bikramganj.
The proposed corridor will link Ballia in Uttar Pradesh with Dehri-on-Sone in Bihar, passing through Simri, Asha Padari, Bhojpur, Dumraon, Nawanagar (Buxar district), and Bikramganj, Karakat and Nasriganj (Rohtas district). The committee said the project is vital for the development of this long-neglected region.“The area suffers from poor rail and road connectivity. This rail line will link large parts of eastern UP and Bihar and improve access to Jharkhand,” said committee secretary Umesh Kumar Gupta.According to the memorandum, the project will benefit 11 Lok Sabha constituencies, including Ballia, Ghazipur, Mau, Chhapra, Siwan, Ara, Buxar and Karakat. It will also enhance connectivity to major religious and tourist centres such as Bodh Gaya, Rajgir, Pawapuri, Kushinagar, Parasnath, Mundeshwari Dham and Tara Chandi.At present, passengers travelling from Ballia to Dehri cover around 360 km via Buxar and Patna, requiring multiple train changes and taking 10–12 hours. The new line would reduce the distance to about 98 km, cutting travel time to just two to three hours.“This will save time and money for daily commuters and pilgrims. People have been demanding this line for over two decades,” said Rajesh Kumar, a resident of Dumraon.The committee added that the project would also boost industrial growth by improving access to the Dalmianagar railway workshop, Banjari cement factory, Chausa thermal power plant, and the proposed SEZs in Nawanagar and Dehri. The corridor would provide the Railways with a shorter freight route, generating additional revenue.In a telephonic conversation, former MP said he was earlier not fully aware of the proposal’s details. “This is a historic and socially important demand. It can accelerate regional development,” he said, adding that he would take up the matter with the railway minister.Residents believe the rail line will create jobs, boost trade and tourism, and give a strong push to development in Purvanchal and adjoining regions of Bihar and Jharkhand.
