After more than five decades of waiting, the Kusheshwar Dham railway project faces fresh controversy over a proposed route change that local residents fear could increase travel distance, require more land acquisition and delay the long-awaited rail connec
A long-pending railway project in Bihar’s Mithila region has once again become the subject of public concern, with local residents and activists opposing a proposed change in the alignment of the railway line leading to Kusheshwar Dham.
The Sakri–Kusheshwarsthan–Hasanpur railway project, whose foundation stone was laid in 1974, was envisioned as an important rail link for the region. More than five decades later, the project remains incomplete, leaving local communities questioning why a railway connection that has been under consideration for generations is still awaiting completion.
According to the Baba Kusheshwar Dham Rail Operations Struggle Committee, the foundation stone for the project was laid by the then Railway Minister, the late Lalit Narayan Mishra. The project subsequently faced prolonged delays. Work gained momentum at different stages under railway ministers including the late Ram Vilas Paswan, Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad Yadav.
The railway line was eventually extended to Biraul, followed by its extension from Biraul to Harinagar in 2018. The committee claims that substantial work has already been completed on the existing alignment, including nearly 80 percent of earthwork and construction related to bridges and culverts.
It is now objecting to what it describes as a proposal to alter the route and take it through Ber Chowk.
Why the proposed route is causing concern
The central argument of the protest committee is that changing the alignment at this stage could increase the distance between Harinagar and Kusheshwar Dham considerably.
According to the notice issued by the committee, the present distance between Harinagar and Kusheshwar Dham is around three kilometres, while the proposed alternative alignment could increase it to approximately 10 to 12 kilometres.
The committee argues that such a change could have consequences beyond the railway project itself. It claims that additional agricultural land could be acquired, families could face displacement and people could lose their livelihoods.
There is also concern over the public money that has already been spent on the existing alignment. If the route is changed after significant construction work, the committee fears that previously completed work and expenditure could become redundant.
These concerns have made the issue particularly sensitive in an agrarian region where land is closely connected with both livelihood and family security.
A project with a long history
The controversy also highlights the extraordinary length of time taken to complete the railway connection.
The project dates back to 1974, meaning that more than five decades have passed since its foundation stone was laid. Over the years, several railway ministers have been associated with efforts to move the project forward.
For the people of the region, the railway is not merely an infrastructure project. Better rail connectivity could improve access to education, employment, healthcare and markets while also making travel easier for residents of remote areas.
Kusheshwar Dham also has religious significance, attracting devotees from different parts of Bihar and neighbouring regions. A direct and convenient railway connection could therefore have implications for both local mobility and religious tourism.
Protest planned at Harinagar
The committee has announced a one-day symbolic protest at Harinagar Railway Station on September 10, 2026, from 11 am.
The objective, according to the notice, is to draw the attention of the government and elected representatives towards the proposed route change and demand that the existing alignment be completed instead.
The committee has appealed to public representatives to place the concerns of local residents before the authorities. Its demand is straightforward: complete the railway connection to Kusheshwar Dham without unnecessarily increasing the distance or causing avoidable displacement and loss of agricultural land.
The dispute now puts the authorities in a difficult position. Any decision on the alignment must balance engineering requirements, financial considerations, land acquisition, environmental and social impacts, and the investment already made in the project.
For the people who have waited for this railway link since 1974, however, the issue is more immediate. They want to know why a project that has survived for generations should face another delay or a major change in direction.
The proposed protest at Harinagar may therefore become an important moment for the region.
A long-pending railway project in Bihar’s Mithila region has once again become the subject of public concern, with local residents and activists opposing a proposed change in the alignment of the railway line leading to Kusheshwar Dham.
The Sakri–Kusheshwarsthan–Hasanpur railway project, whose foundation stone was laid in 1974, was envisioned as an important rail link for the region. More than five decades later, the project remains incomplete, leaving local communities questioning why a railway connection that has been under consideration for generations is still awaiting completion.
According to the Baba Kusheshwar Dham Rail Operations Struggle Committee, the foundation stone for the project was laid by the then Railway Minister, the late Lalit Narayan Mishra. The project subsequently faced prolonged delays. Work gained momentum at different stages under railway ministers including the late Ram Vilas Paswan, Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad Yadav.
The railway line was eventually extended to Biraul, followed by its extension from Biraul to Harinagar in 2018. The committee claims that substantial work has already been completed on the existing alignment, including nearly 80 percent of earthwork and construction related to bridges and culverts.
It is now objecting to what it describes as a proposal to alter the route and take it through Ber Chowk.
Why the proposed route is causing concern
The central argument of the protest committee is that changing the alignment at this stage could increase the distance between Harinagar and Kusheshwar Dham considerably.
According to the notice issued by the committee, the present distance between Harinagar and Kusheshwar Dham is around three kilometres, while the proposed alternative alignment could increase it to approximately 10 to 12 kilometres.
The committee argues that such a change could have consequences beyond the railway project itself. It claims that additional agricultural land could be acquired, families could face displacement and people could lose their livelihoods.
There is also concern over the public money that has already been spent on the existing alignment. If the route is changed after significant construction work, the committee fears that previously completed work and expenditure could become redundant.
These concerns have made the issue particularly sensitive in an agrarian region where land is closely connected with both livelihood and family security.
A project with a long history
The controversy also highlights the extraordinary length of time taken to complete the railway connection.
The project dates back to 1974, meaning that more than five decades have passed since its foundation stone was laid. Over the years, several railway ministers have been associated with efforts to move the project forward.
For the people of the region, the railway is not merely an infrastructure project. Better rail connectivity could improve access to education, employment, healthcare and markets while also making travel easier for residents of remote areas.
Kusheshwar Dham also has religious significance, attracting devotees from different parts of Bihar and neighbouring regions. A direct and convenient railway connection could therefore have implications for both local mobility and religious tourism.
Protest planned at Harinagar
The committee has announced a one-day symbolic protest at Harinagar Railway Station on September 10, 2026, from 11 am.
The objective, according to the notice, is to draw the attention of the government and elected representatives towards the proposed route change and demand that the existing alignment be completed instead.
The committee has appealed to public representatives to place the concerns of local residents before the authorities. Its demand is straightforward: complete the railway connection to Kusheshwar Dham without unnecessarily increasing the distance or causing avoidable displacement and loss of agricultural land.
The dispute now puts the authorities in a difficult position. Any decision on the alignment must balance engineering requirements, financial considerations, land acquisition, environmental and social impacts, and the investment already made in the project.
For the people who have waited for this railway link since 1974, however, the issue is more immediate. They want to know why a project that has survived for generations should face another delay or a major change in direction.
The proposed protest at Harinagar may therefore become an important moment for the region.
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