Lok Sabha Question No. 271 (STARRED), answered on 2026-03-11
Subject: Lack of FOBs at Railway Stations under East Central Railway
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Shri Sudhakar Singh

§

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 271

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.03.2026

## LACK OF FOBS AT RAILWAY STATIONS UNDER EAST CENTRAL RAILWAY

## †*271. SHRI SUDHAKAR SINGH:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether passengers are reportedly facing serious difficulties and risk of accidents  while  crossing  the  platforms  at  Dumraon  railway  station under  Danapur  division  and  Karmanasha  and  Mahmudganj  railway stations under Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhayaya Division of East Central Railway  in  absence  of  Foot  Over  Bridges  there  and  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (b)  whether  the  arrangement  of  safe  pedestrian  crossing  facilities  is extremely necessary  considering the large daily footfall of rural passengers,  women,  elderly  people  and  students  at  the  said  railway stations and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether any survey has been conducted/proposal received and approval accorded  for  the  construction  of  Foot  Over  Bridges  at  the  said  three stations;
- (d)  if  so,  the  present  status  of  the  said  proposals  and  the  time  by  which action is likely to be taken in this regard; and
- (e) if not, the reasons for not including the said stations in the priority list
- for the construction of FOBs?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (a) to (e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

*****

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (e)  OF  STARRED QUESTION NO. 271 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.03.2026 IN LOK SABHA

(a)  to  (e)  Foot  Over  Bridges  (FOBs)  are  available  at  Dumraon,  Karamnasa and Muhammad Ganj railway stations of East Central Railway. The details are as under:

| Station       | Details of FOB                                                                |
|---------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Dumraon       | One FOB is existing and construction of one additional FOB has been taken up. |
| Karamnasa     | One FOB is existing and one additional FOB has been planned.                  |
| Muhammad Ganj | One FOB is existing and construction of one additional FOB has been taken up. |

Dumraon station of Danapur division, East Central Railway, located in Bihar and Muhammad Ganj station of Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhayay division, East Central Railway, located in Jharkhand have been identified for development under Amrit Bharat Station  Scheme. Development works  at Dumraon  and Muhammad Ganj stations have been taken up at good pace.

At Dumraon station, platform shelter, waiting hall, drinking water arrangement, urinal, lavatory, seating arrangement,  Foot Over Bridge etc. amenities are available. The works of new station building, new platform, circulating area, parking and additional Foot Over Bridge have been taken up.  Work  has  also  been  sanctioned  for  replacement  of  the  existing  Foot Over Bridge.

At  Muhammad Ganj station,  high  level  platform,  platform  shelter,  waiting hall,  drinking  water  arrangement,  urinal,  lavatory,  seating  arrangement, Foot  Over  Bridge  etc.  amenities  are  available.  The  works  completed  at Muhammad Ganj station includes:

-  New station building
-  Raising and extension of platform no. 1, 2/3 and 4/5
-  Circulating area and parking at main entry side

Further,  the  works  of  canopy,  platform  shelter,  platform  surfacing,  toilet block, entry gate and additional Foot Over Bridge have been taken up.

At  Karamnasa  station  of  Pandit  Deen  Dayal  Upadhayay  division,  East Central  Railway,  located  in  Bihar,  high  level  platform,  platform  shelter, waiting hall, drinking water arrangement, urinal, lavatory, seating arrangement,  Foot  Over  Bridge,  Divyangjan  toilet  etc.  are  available.  One additional Foot Over Bridge has also been planned.

Further,  development  /  redevelopment  /  upgradation  /  modernisation  of stations  on  Indian  Railways  including  provision  of  Foot  Over  Bridge  is  a continuous and ongoing process and works in this regard are undertaken as  per  requirement,  subject  to  inter-se  priority  and  availability  of  funds. Development / redevelopment / upgradation / modernisation of a station is carried out based on category of station/condition/traffic handled etc.

Ministry  of  Railways  has  launched  Amrit  Bharat  Station  Scheme  for redevelopment of stations with a long-term approach. So far, 1337 stations have been identified for development under Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, out  of  which  98  stations  including  Dumraon  station  of  Danapur  division, East  Central  Railway,  are  located  in  Bihar  and  57  stations  including Muhammad  Ganj  station  of  Pandit  Deen  Dayal  Upadhayay  division,  East Central Railway, are located in Jharkhand.

The division-wise names of stations identified for development under Amrit Bharat Station Scheme in Bihar and Jharkhand are as following:

| State   | Division   | No. of   | Name of Stations             |
|---------|------------|----------|------------------------------|
|         |            | Stations |                              |
| Bihar   | Asansol    | 1        | Simultala                    |
|         | Danapur    | 21       | Ara, Bakhtiyarpur, Barahiya, |

| State   | Division                    | No. of Stations   | Name of Stations                                                                                                                                                                                     |
|---------|-----------------------------|-------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|         |                             |                   | Barh, Bihar Sharif, Bihiya, Buxar, Chausa, Dumraon, Fatuha, Jamui, Jehanabad, Luckeesarai Jn, Mokama, Nawadah, Patliputra, Patna Jn, Raghunathpur., Rajendra Nagar Terminal (Patna), Rajgir, Taregna |
|         | Dhanbad                     | 1                 | Paharpur                                                                                                                                                                                             |
|         | Katihar                     | 7                 | Arariya Court, Barsoi Jn, Katihar Jn, Kishanganj, Labha, Salmari, Thakurganj                                                                                                                         |
|         | Malda                       | 9                 | Banka, Bhagalpur, Jamalpur Jn, Kahalgaon, Munger (Monghyr), Pirpainti, Sabaur, Shivanarayanpur, Sultanganj                                                                                           |
|         | Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya | 12                | Anugraha Narayan Road, Bhabua Road, Bikramganj, Dehri On Sone, Durgauti, Gaya, Guraru, Kudra, Nabinagar Road, Piro, Rafiganj, Sasaram                                                                |
|         | Samastipur                  | 25                | Banmankhi, Bapudham Motihari, Bettiah, Chakia, Darbhanga, Dauram Madhepura, Dholi, Ghorasahan, Janakpur Road, Jaynagar, Jhanjharpur, Laheria Sarai, Madhubani, Motipur, Muzaffarpur Jn, Narkatiaganj |

| State     | Division      | No. of Stations   | Name of Stations                                                                                                                                                                                              |
|-----------|---------------|-------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|           |               |                   | Jn, Raxaul, Sagauli, Saharsa, Sakri, Salauna, Samastipur, Simri Bakhtiyarpur, Sitamarhi, Supaul                                                                                                               |
|           | Sonpur        | 16                | Barauni, Begusarai, Bhagwanpur, Dalsingh Sarai, Dighwara, Hajipur Jn, Karhagola Road, Khagaria Jn, Lakhminia, Maheshkhunt, Mansi Jn, Naugachia, Ram Dayalu Nagar, Sahibpur Kamal, Shahpur Patoree, Sonpur Jn. |
|           | Varanasi      | 6                 | Chhapra, Ekma, Mairwa, Masrakh, Siwan, Thawe                                                                                                                                                                  |
| Jharkhand | Adra          | 3                 | Bhaga, Bokaro Steel City, Chandil                                                                                                                                                                             |
|           | Asansol       | 10                | Basukinath, Deoghar, Dumka, Giridih, Jamtara, Jasidih Jn, Kumardubi, Madhupur Jn, Sankarpur, Vidyasagar                                                                                                       |
|           | Chakradharpur | 9                 | Barajamda Jn, Chaibasa, Chakradharpur, Dangoaposi, Gamharia, Manoharpur, Rajkharswan, Sini, Tatanagar                                                                                                         |
|           | Dhanbad       | 13                | Barkakana, Chandrapura, Daltonganj, Dhanbad, Garhwa Road, Garhwa Town, Hazaribagh Road, Katrasgarh,                                                                                                           |

| State   | Division                    | No. of Stations   | Name of Stations                                                                                                                        |
|---------|-----------------------------|-------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|         |                             |                   | Koderma Jn, Latehar, N.S.C.B. Jn Gomoh, Nagar Untari, Parasnath                                                                         |
|         | Howrah                      | 1                 | Pakur                                                                                                                                   |
|         | Kharagpur                   | 1                 | Ghatsila                                                                                                                                |
|         | Malda                       | 3                 | Godda, Rajmahal, Sahibganj                                                                                                              |
|         | Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya | 3                 | Haidar Nagar, Japla, Muhammad Ganj                                                                                                      |
|         | Ranchi                      | 14                | Balsiring, Bano, Gangaghat, Govindpur Road, Hatia, Lohardaga, Muri Jn, Namkom, Orga, Piska, Ramgarh Cantt, Ranchi Jn, Silli, Tatisilwai |

## Completed Stations:

Development works at railway stations under Amrit Bharat Station Scheme in Bihar and Jharkhand have been taken up at a good pace and the works have been completed at following stations in Bihar and Jharkhand:

Godda, Govindpur Road, Lohardaga, Madhupur Jn, Muri Jn, Pirpainti, Piska, Rajmahal, Sahibganj, Sankarpur and Thawe.

The activities for development at other stations have also been taken up at good pace and progress of some of the stations is as given below:

## Bihar:

-  Chausa station:  The  structural  work  of  new  station  building  has  been completed. The works of circulating area, parking, lift,  6  m  Foot  Over

Bridge,  brick  work  and  plastering  of  new  station  building  have  been taken up.

- Durgauti station: The works of raising and extension of platform no. 1/2 & 3/4 and toilet block have been completed. The works of improvement of station building, platform shelter, platform surfacing, improvement of waiting  hall,  toilet  block,  circulating  area,  parking  at  main  entry  side, landscaping,  entry  gate,  tactile  pathway  for  Divyangjan  and  3  m  Foot
-  Over Bridge have been taken up.
-  Raghunathpur station: The work of station building, circulating area, lift and 6 m Foot Over Bridge have been taken up.
-  Barsoi Junction station: The works of dismantling of old quarters and shifting of utilities have been completed. The works of station building, circulating area and 12 m Foot Over Bridge have been taken up.
- Kishanganj station: The works of platform surfacing at platform no. 1&2, drinking  water  taps  at  platform  no.  1&2,  improvement  of  circulating area,  parking  at  second  entry,  approach  road  and  boundary  wall  have been completed. The works of horticulture and 12 m Foot Over Bridge
-  have been taken up.

## Jharkhand:

-  Daltonganj station: The works of raising and surfacing of platform no. 1, 2 &  3 and toilet complex  have  been  completed.  The  works  of improvement  of  station  building,  porch,  platform  shelter,  circulating area,  2-wheeler,  3-wheeler  and  4-wheeler  parking,  approach  road, boundary wall and 12 m Foot Over Bridge have been taken up.
-  Garhwa Road station: The works of raising and surfacing of platform no. 1,  2  &  3  have  been  completed.  The  works  of  improvement  of  station

building,  porch,  platform  shelter,  toilet  complex,  2-wheeler,  3  and  4wheeler parking, approach road, boundary wall, entry/exit gate and 12 m Foot Over Bridge have been taken up.

-  Haidar Nagar station: The works of circulating area at main entry side and  landscaping  have  been  completed.  The  works  of  improvement  of station  building,  platform  shelter,  platform  surfacing,  improvement  of waiting hall, toilet block, parking at main entry side, tactile pathway for Divyangjan and 6 m Foot Over Bridge have been taken up.
-  Japla station: The works of new station building and landscaping have been completed. The works of improvement of existing station building, platform shelter, platform surfacing, improvement of waiting hall, toilet block, circulating area, parking at main entry side, entry gate and 6 m Foot Over Bridge have been taken up.
-  Nagar  Untari  station:  The  works  of  improvement  of  waiting  hall, platform  shelter,  platform  surfacing,  parking,  approach  road  and  12  m Foot Over Bridge have been taken up.

Amrit Bharat Station Scheme involves preparation of master plans and their implementation  in  phases  to  improve  the  stations.  The  master  planning includes:

-  Improvement of access to station and circulating areas
-  Integration of station with both sides of city
-  Improvement of station building
-  Improvement of waiting halls, toilets, sitting arrangement, water booths
-  Provision  of  wider  foot  over  bridge/air  concourse  commensurate  with passenger traffic
-  Provision of lift/escalators/ramp
-  Improvement /Provision of platform surface and cover over platforms
-  Provision of kiosks for local products through schemes like 'One Station One Product'
-  Parking areas, Multimodal integration
-  Amenities for Divyangjans
-  Better passenger information systems
-  Provision of executive lounges, nominated spaces for business meetings,  landscaping,  etc.  keeping  in  view  the  necessity  at  each station.

The scheme also envisages sustainable and environment friendly solutions, provision of ballastless tracks etc. as per necessity, phasing and feasibility and creation of city centre at the station in the long term.

Development  /  Upgradation  of  railway  stations  is  complex  in  nature involving  safety  of  passengers  &  trains  and  requires  various  statutory clearances such as fire clearance, heritage, tree cutting, airport clearance etc. The progress also gets affected due to brownfield related challenges such  as  shifting  of  utilities  (involving  water/sewage  lines,  optical  fibre cables, gas pipe lines, power/signal cables, etc.), infringements, operation of trains without hindering passenger movement, speed restrictions due to works carried out in close proximity of tracks and high voltage power lines, etc. and these factors affect the completion time.

Proposals  /  Requests  /  Suggestions  /  Representations,  both  formal  and informal for Railway projects/ works across the country are received on the basis  of  demands  raised  by  State  Governments,  Members  of  Parliament, Ministries  of  Central  Government,  elected  representatives, Railways'  own requirements,  organizations  /  rail  users  etc.,  at  various  levels  including Railway  Board,  Zonal  Railways,  Division  Office  etc.  Receipt  of  such proposals  /  requests  /  suggestions  /  representations  is  a  continuous  and dynamic process and these are examined and action as found feasible and justified is taken from time to time.

Development  /  Upgradation  /  Modernization  of  stations  including  Amrit Bharat Station Scheme is generally funded under Plan Head-53 'Customer Amenities'.  The  details  of  allocation  and  expenditure  under  Plan  Head-53 are  maintained  Zonal  Railway-wise  and  not  work-wise  or  station-wise  or state-wise. Bihar  is  covered  under  the  jurisdiction  of  four  railway  zones,  namely, Eastern  Railway,  East  Central  Railway,  Northeast  Frontier  Railway  and North Eastern Railway. For these zones, an allocation of ₹ 1,828 crore has been made for the financial year 2025-26, out of which an expenditure (up to January, 2026) of ₹ 1,584 crore has been incurred so far. Jharkhand is covered under the jurisdiction of three railway zones, namely, Eastern  Railway,  East  Central  Railway  and  South  Eastern  Railway.  For these zones, an allocation of ₹ 1,469 crore has been made for the financial year 2025-26, out of which an expenditure (up to January, 2026) of ₹ 1,292

crore has been incurred so far.

*****