A new chapter is about to be written in the railway history of Bastar. After 79 years of independence, passenger trains will now run directly up to Raoghat, known as the gateway to Abujhmad. Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw will inaugurate the newly constructed Tadoki-Raoghat rail line through video conferencing. Along with this, he will flag off the extension of the Tadoki-Raoghat passenger train up to Raoghat. The same event will also mark the launch of the Abupur-Kuru broad-gauge line and the Raipur-Kuru train service.
A Century-Old Journey to Bring Trains
The story of bringing railways to Raoghat dates back over a century. The Bengal Nagpur Railway conducted the very first survey for a rail line here in 1914 during the British era. Records also mention the operation of a forest tram between Kuru and Likma to transport forest produce during 1917 and 1918. After independence, a technical and economic survey for the project began in 1974. It was subsequently included in the railway budget with in-principle approval during 1998-1999. Between 2005 and 2007, an agreement was finalized among the railways, SAIL, and the Chhattisgarh government, and the construction responsibility was handed over to Rail Vikas Nigam Limited in 2008.
Overcoming Severe Challenges in Naxal-Hit Terrain
Laying the approximately 95-kilometer-long line from Dalli-Rajhara to Raoghat was far from easy. Because the region is heavily affected by Naxalism, construction faced obstacles at every single step. Three security personnel and four laborers lost their lives in Naxal attacks. To protect the workers, security camps were established every five kilometers along the route. Due to persistent safety hazards, construction work could only be carried out for five to six hours each day.
Expanding Regional Rail Infrastructure
To further enhance railway connectivity in Bastar, plans are also underway for a Dhamtari-Jagdalpur broad-gauge line. According to the proposal, this line will extend through Kuru, Dhamtari, Nagri, and Borai to Jagdalpur, providing Bastar with a secondary rail route. Additionally, the doubling of the Kotavalsa-Kirandul rail section is currently underway, which will boost the transportation of iron ore and other goods. The arrival of passenger trains up to Raoghat will simplify travel to Raipur for local residents, which is expected to give a fresh impetus to the overall development of Bastar.
