The Bakhtiyarpur–Rajgir railway line is a short but historically important branch line in Bihar. It connects Bakhtiyarpur, a key junction on the Howrah–Delhi main route, with Rajgir, one of India’s oldest living historic towns.
The line was built during the British colonial period and opened to traffic around 1916–1917. At the time, it was laid as a meter-gauge railway, which was common for secondary and feeder routes in eastern India. Its purpose was not industrial freight, but access—linking Rajgir and the Nalanda region to the main railway network.
Rajgir had long been associated with Gautama Buddha and Mahavira. Nearby Nalanda had already gained global recognition for its ancient university. Despite this importance, the area remained relatively isolated until the arrival of the railway. The Bakhtiyarpur connection significantly reduced travel time from Patna and Kolkata, encouraging pilgrimage and scholarly visits.
Construction of the line was carried out by Martin & Company, one of the most prominent railway and civil engineering contractors in British India. Martin & Company was responsible for surveying the route, earthwork, track formation, and the construction of bridges and small station buildings. The terrain near Rajgir, with low hills and seasonal streams, required careful alignment, something the firm was well known for.
After independence, the line continued to operate as a meter-gauge route for several decades. In the early 2000s, it underwent gauge conversion to broad gauge as part of Indian Railways’ national modernization program. While the track and signaling were upgraded, the original colonial alignment designed by Martin & Company remains largely unchanged.
Today, the Bakhtiyarpur–Rajgir line mainly carries passenger and local MEMU services. It may not be a high-profile route, but it quietly fulfills the same role it was built for over a century ago—connecting history, pilgrimage, and everyday life through rail.
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