Ranchi, January 19: In a major expansion, the Ministry of Railways is set to connect four districts of Jharkhand by rail for the first time since independence. These districts will come under the Ranchi division, as per the statement by the ministry.
According to reports, the preliminary survey report for the project has been submitted by Jharkhand Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (JRIDCL) to the Railway Board for a detailed project report (DPR).
The districts that are to be connected by rail are Gumla, Khunti, Simdega, and Chatra. While Gumla, Khunti and Simdega will be connected to the existing Ranchi-Lohardaga rail line, Chatra will be connected to a railroad along the Ranchi-Hazaribagh rail route.
According to the details in the report, a 55 km rail line will be laid from Lohardaga to Gumla, 20 km from Hatia to Khunti, 43 km from Gumla to Simdega, and 42 km from Hazaribagh to Chatra.
The project was spearheaded under the Union Cabinet decision in August 2024 in which three railway projects worth nearly Rs 6,500 crore were passed. These projects included setting up of two new lines and one multi-tracking project covering seven districts in four States– Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and West Bengal.
India’s railway network is an integral part of the country’s transport system. With over 8,000 stations across the country, it offers a wide range of connectivity for the travellers. Npw, the network is expanding even more as four districts in Jharkhand—Gumla, Khunti, Simdega, and Chatra—are all set to get railway connectivity for the first time since India’s independence. This long-awaited move marks a significant milestone.
These districts in Jharkhand have lacked the convenience of railway connectivity for decades. The locals here relied heavily on road transportation to travel to major towns and cities. Naturally, the addition of these rail links for these districts under the Ranchi division of Railways will certainly transform the region’s connectivity, economy, and overall development.
