LUCKNOW: Construction of the 26.5-km Bhandai-Kitham bypass line under the Mathura-Jhansi third railway line project is progressing steadily in the Agra division.Around 82% of the civil work has been completed, and the project is scheduled for completion by the end of December 2026.Earthwork covering 38.65 lakh cubic metres has been completed. Of the 57 minor bridges planned, 53 have been constructed.The substructure work of all 18 major bridges is complete, while the superstructure of 13 bridges has been finished. Fabrication of five OWG girders has also been completed.Considering local requirements, the number of bridges has been increased from 37 to 75. A new crossing station is also being constructed at Nanpur between Bhandai and Kitham.“The bypass will increase rail capacity in the Agra area, reduce pressure on existing routes and help streamline the movement of passenger and freight trains. The Nanpur crossing station will further improve train operations,” a railway official said.Around 161 hectares of land has been acquired for the bypass, for which Rs 540.20 crore has been paid. To compensate for 5,094 trees affected by the alignment, 50,940 saplings have been planted.The bypass is also expected to improve train operations on the Delhi-Mumbai rail route.
