Ranchi, June 23: Chief Minister Raghubar Das today met Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu and discussed the closure of Dhanbad-Chandrapura railway line while underlining the problems being faced by the people of the state.
The Railway Minister assured the CM to send a special team of Railway experts to Ranchi on Saturday explore alternatives for the closed-down Dhanbad-Chandrapura rail line.
Speaking to media outside the Parliament, Das said, �People are facing difficulties due to closure of the Dhanbad-Chandrapura railway line. I have demanded alternative arrangement by the Railways. The Railway Minister has given his approval to our demand.�
The CM said the state government would soon provide land to the Railways. He said both the Central and the state governments were serious on the issue.
Railway Ministry had closed all train services on the Dhanbad-Chandrapura railway line on 15th June last in view of the underground fire in Jharia-Dhanbad region. Railway Board member (Traffic) Muhammad Jamshed had made the announcement that is expected to affect 1.25 crore passengers.
As per a report of the Director General of Mines Safety, coal fire under the railway lines between Dhanbad and Chandrapura have spread widely and hence are a threat to safe running of trains on the said route. Keeping this in view, the train services were closed on this line.