A bonanza awaits Bihar, the home state of Railway Minister Lalu Prasad, who may announce 10 rail routes for the state in the coming Railway Budget.

In the last budget, Prasad had announced setting up of a coach factory in his Lok Sabha constituency, Chhapra, introduction of Garib Rath (a no-frills air-conditioned train), besides increasing the frequency of 50-odd trains crossing Bihar in the last four years.

According to Rail Bhawan sources, the new lines will connect important stations in the state like Bodhgaya, Muzaffarpur, Aara, Daltonganj, Bihariganj and Darbhanga with each other. A couple of new lines are also expected to be announced for Tamil Nadu and Tripura, say sources.

Construction of a broad-gauge Bhanupali-Bilaspur-Beri line and a Cuddapah-Bangalore line at a cost Rs 1,040 crore (Rs 10.40 billion) and Rs 1,000 crore (Rs 10 billion), respectively, are also expected to be announced.

The long-pending demand for doubling and electrification of the Ahmedabad-Udaipur route is also likely to find place in the budget. "This line is close to the heart of Minister of State for Railways Naran Rathwa," a source said.

A new broad-gauge line connecting two important cities of Tripura -- Agartala and Sabrum -- may also be in the list of the new routes Prasad is expected to announce.

Looking at the Lok Sabha elections next year, Prasad has already said that this will be a people-friendly budger.

Among other important announcements expected are an estimated outlay of Rs 4,510 crore (Rs 45.10 billion) for the second phase of the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP).

This phase is aimed at improving the Mumbai suburban rail service, the lifeline of the city, and provide adequate rolling stock to run 12 car services at three minutes' headway and bring down the number of passenger trains to 3,000 from the existing 5,000.