Indian Railways today inaugurated the Tadoki-Rowghat and Abhanpur-Kurud broad gauge lines in Chattisgarh and flagged off new passenger train services connecting Raipur to Rowghat and Kurud.
The arrival of a train at Raoghat for the first time since Independence marks a historic milestone in connecting the remote southern regions of the state to the national rail grid.
The foundation stone for an electric locomotive maintenance facility was also laid in Raipur. The events were held in the presence of Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai and Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, who joined via video conferencing.
The 95-km Dalli-Rajhara-Rowghat line, completed for 1,628 crore rupees, reached full operational status with the 17.5-km Tadoki-Raoghat stretch.
Railway Minister Vaishnaw congratulated the people of Chhattisgarh and listed key ongoing and completed works, including the Dalli-Rajhara-Rowghat line, gauge conversion of the Kendi-Abhanpur-Rajim-Dhamtari section, multi-tracking projects and the recently approved Pendra Road-Bilaspur-Uslapur third line. The Kharsia-Parmalkasa double-line work is also in progress.
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on behalf of the state’s three crore people. He said, these projects, will give fresh impetus to industrial, commercial and socio-economic growth in remote areas.
The Chief Minister said, services will improve connectivity in the Bastar region and boost trade, commerce, healthcare and education.