New Mokama Ganga Rail Bridge to Start Operations on October 5 After CRS Inspection

In a transformative infrastructure breakthrough for passenger mobility and regional freight logistics across Bihar, commercial train operations on the newly constructed rail bridge built parallel to the historic Rajendra Bridge over the Ganga River in Mokama, Patna district, are slated to commence on Monday, October 5, 2026. Undertaking statutory safety clearance proceedings, the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS), Eastern Circle, Kolkata, Guru Prakash, initiated a rigorous two-day comprehensive technical inspection on Saturday, October 3, covering the mega structure's structural load parameters, track doubling, overhead electrification (OHE), and computerized safety systems. The final leg of inspections concludes on Sunday, October 4; upon issuance of the formal fitness certificate, East Central Railway (ECR) will greenlight regular movement for both passenger expresses and freight rakes, fundamentally resolving century-old transit bottlenecks between North and South Bihar.Detailed Motor Trolley Inspection: Assessing Track Stability, Viaduct-1, and ElectrificationThe high-level technical appraisal covered critical civil and electrical engineering assets across the river corridor:Motor Trolley Track Review: On day one of statutory assessments, CRS Guru Prakash conducted an on-track motor trolley inspection of the main bridge's eastern alignment stretching between Rajendra Bridge and Hathidah Upper.Viaduct-1 to Rampur Dumra Evaluation: The inspection team extended scrutiny along the newly erected Viaduct-1 toward the Howrah-bound end between Rampur Dumra, thoroughly checking bridge bearings, expansion joints, overhead catenary lines, and high-speed track geometry.Top Railway Leadership Present: The safety evaluation was conducted alongside Chief Administrative Officer (Construction/South) Rajiv Gupta, Danapur Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) Vinod Kumar, along with senior project executives from IRCON International Limited and the Danapur rail division.Dual Cargo and Passenger Clearance: Engineered to handle heavy axle loads, the state-of-the-art dual-track bridge will drastically enhance section line capacity, eliminating congestion for trains traveling between Begusarai, Barauni, Mokama, and Patna.Major Modernization Milestone: Three Electronic Interlockings and Auto-Signaling CommissionedSimultaneous with structural track validation, Indian Railways executed a comprehensive overhaul of train traffic controls along the 13-kilometer section:Triple Electronic Interlocking Deployment: Cutting-edge microprocessor-based Electronic Interlocking (EI) systems were officially commissioned across three key operational hubs—Tal, Hathidah, and Rampur Dumra—replacing obsolete relay systems to provide fail-safe digital route setting.Interlocking at Two Level Crossing Gates: Two busy road level crossing gates along the alignment were integrated with interlocking controls, eliminating human operating errors and guaranteeing safer road and rail transit.High-Density Auto-Signaling Introduced: The operationalization of continuous automatic block signaling throughout the 13-kilometer Mokama–Rampur Dumra stretch enables close train following at optimal speeds, maximizing existing rail line capacity and significantly boosting overall punctuality across East Central Railway networks.