Patna: In a bid to reclaim encroached railway land, the Samastipur division of the East Central Railway (ECR) demolished 157 illegal structures at Simri Bakhtiyarpur near Saharsa. The operation, conducted on Thursday, freed a total of 5,500 square metres of valuable railway land, Samastipur divisional railway manager (DRM) Vinay Srivastava said on Friday. The demolition is part of ECR’s ongoing efforts to ensure safety, maintain operational efficiency and preserve railway infrastructure. “These illegal constructions posed several risks, including encroachment on vital safety zones, hindering railway expansion plans and creating obstacles for future infrastructure projects,” Srivastava said. According to the DRM, the operation was carried out with the support of local police and proceeded smoothly without major resistance. “Removal of these structures was necessary for the development of the region’s railway network and the improvement of services for passengers,” Srivastava added. This initiative is part of a series of similar actions by the Samastipur division over the past year to address unauthorised and illegal occupation of railway land. The railways has urged citizens and land occupiers to avoid illegal construction on its property. “The railways intends to build additional rail lines, parking areas for vehicles and circulating spaces for passengers under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme (ABSS) at Simri Bakhtiyarpur station in the coming days,” the DRM said.
