Friday, February 24 2006 12:31 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Railways proposes to complete over 550 kms of new lines in eight sections, Railway Minister Lalu Prasad announced today(Feb 24,2006).

Presenting the Rail Budget for 2006-07, he said the newlines are Bikramganj-Sasaram, Muzaffarpur-Sitamarhi,Keojhar-Daitari, Sakri-Biraul, Manu-Agartala, Hathua-Bathua Bazar, Udhampur-Katra, Qazignd-Badgam and Karimnagar-Jagityal.

With the completion of these sections, the new line projects of Ara-Sasaram, Muzaffarpur-Sitarmarhi, Daitari-Banaspani and Kumarghat-Agartala would be fully completed, he said. (

Prasad said during the year a target of completion of over 1100 kms has been fixed in 14 sections.

These are Jayanagar-Darbhanga, Senchoa-Silghat, Katihar-Barsoi, Ajmer-Chhitaurgarh, Kinvat-Mudkhed, Sonamukhi-Rainagar, Tirunelveli-Tiruchendur, Attur-Salem, Mailaduturai-Villupuram, Puddukotai-Karaikudi, Basavanabagewadi-Bagalkot, Mysore-Chamrajnagar, Neemuch-Ratlam and Samakhiali-Gandhidham.

The target for doubling of railway lines has been fixed at 435 kms to add line capacity on certain congested routes.

The doubling of Patna-Gaya line would be speeded up so as to compete it in the next two years, he said.