“The next budget for the Railways will be unprecedented and astonishing. We want to further expand its network in the country and reach such people who have not yet got the opportunity to use its service,” Lalu said, while addressing a gathering here after flagging off a new train between Motihari and Varanasi. Describing the Railways as the country’s “lifeline”, he said, “Though India has the largest rail network in the world, we want to take it to the people who are not yet reached.”

Thirty-nine rail-road over-bridges were being constructed in the state and the rail-cum-road bridge over river Ganga between Digha and Sonepur —  declared as national project, will be completed by 2009, Lalu said,  while accusing his predecessors of ignoring the state.