CHHATTISGARH (Metro Rail News): Indian Railways services have reached Rowghat in Chhattisgarh’s Kanker district for the first time since Independence, following the opening of the Tadoki-Rowghat railway section. The 17.5-km stretch completes the ₹1,628 crore Dallirajhara-Rowghat line, improving access to a remote part of Bastar and advancing a wider rail link planned towards Jagdalpur.     

Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai inaugurated the new section on Tuesday and flagged off passenger services connecting Rowghat with Raipur via Dallirajhara. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw joined the event virtually from New Delhi.

The opening extends passenger operations beyond Tadoki, which was previously the terminus of the line. The development is expected to improve access to education, healthcare, jobs and markets for residents of the region, where railway connectivity has remained limited.

95-km railway line completed at a cost of ₹1,628 cr

The Dallirajhara-Rowghat railway line spans 95 km and has been built at an estimated cost of ₹1,628 crore. Passenger services were already operating on the 77.5-km Dallirajhara-Tadoki section. The final 17.5 km between Tadoki and Rowghat was completed last month, allowing trains to reach the new terminus. The line forms part of the approximately 240-km Dallirajhara-Rowghat-Jagdalpur railway project, a joint venture involving the Chhattisgarh government, NMDC, SAIL and Indian Railways.

The wider project has both passenger and freight significance. It is expected to improve transport options in remote parts of Bastar and support the movement of iron ore from the Rowghat mining area to steel plants, including SAIL’s Bhilai Steel Plant. 

Dallirajhara-Rowghat-Jagdalpur railway project

Before Rowghat passenger services were already operational on the Dallirajhara-Tadoki section spanning 77.5 km. The Dallirajhara-Tadoki section is part of the 240-km Dallirajhara-Rowghat-Jagdalpur railway project which is a joint initiative involving the Chhattisgarh government, NMDC, SAIL and Indian Railways. 

Sponsored

“With the inauguration of the Tadoki-Rowghat section, Raipur has now been connected to Rowghat through Dallirajhara. This link will be further extended to Jagdalpur and then to Koraput in Odisha and Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh,” Ashwini Vaishnaw, Railway Minister said.

This initiative is made to strengthen connectivity in remote areas of Bastar and improve the transportation of goods and commodities. It will also enable the transportation of iron ore from the Rowghat mines to steel plants, including SAIL’s Bhilai Steel Plant.

Abhanpur-Kurud line opens alongside Rowghat link

CM Sai also inaugurated the Abhanpur-Kurud broad gauge section and flagged off passenger services in Raipur and Kurud. The 22 km stretch is a part of Abhanpur-Dhamtari gauge conversion project. While the Abhanpur-Kurud section has been completed, work on the remaining Kurud-Dhamtari section is still in process. 

The new service is expected to benefit students, employees, farmers, traders and other passengers travelling between Kurud and Raipur. Completion of the remaining section will be needed to extend the converted line further towards Dhamtari.

Raipur to get Electric Locomotive Maintenance facility 

The CM also laid a locomotive maintenance facility in Rowghat. It will have the ability to contain 300 high-horsepower electric locomotives. As per Vaishnav, the facility would manufacture modern 9,000-horsepower electric locomotives that comply with international standards, with the potential for future exports.

Sai also said 32 railway stations across Chhattisgarh were being redeveloped, with eight completed and dedicated to the nation. The railway minister said around ₹57,000 crore worth of railway works were underway in the state, which has achieved 100% railway electrification.

Also Read: Rail Line Reaches Rowghat For The First Time, Tadoki-Rowghat section Clears Final Safety Trials