New Delhi: In the presence of the Minister of Railways, Shri Dinesh Trivedi and the Chief Minster of Jharkhand, Shri Arjun Munda, an Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the ongoing Railway projects in Jharkhand state, was signed by Chairman, Railway Board, Shri Vinay Mittal and Chief Secretary, Government of Jharkhand, Shri S.K.Choudhary, here today. Under this MOU, the Government of Jharkhand is assuring 50 per cent funds for balance cost of the project and adequate security for execution of the project whereas Railways assures completion of ongoing projects by March 2013 except Koderma-Tilaiya for which forestry clearance is yet to be received. Also present on the occasion were other Railway Board Members, and senior officials.

Railways are executing six projects (five new line and one gauge conversion project) on cost sharing basis with the Government of Jharkhand. One of the projects i.e. Deoghar-Dumka has already been completed and the remaining five projects are in various stages of progress.

The Government of Jharkhand has also consented for sharing 50 per cent cost of Hansdiha-Godda new line project (30 kms), sanctioned in 2011-12. This project is scheduled to be completed in a period of four years by March 2016.

There are 31 railway projects which are being executed on cost sharing basis in various states like Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Rajasthan etc.