Rail projects nearing end, connectivity to be better in J’khand

RANCHI: Jharkhand can boast of better rail connectivity in the next few years if the ongoing projects are completed on time.

Sixteen projects under the jurisdiction of east central railway, eastern railway and south eastern railway were commissioned during 2014-16, while 17 are in progress at various stages, railway officials said.

The 17 ongoing projects are: Koderma-Tilaiya railway tracks, Gaya-Bodh Gaya-Chatra and Gaya-Natesar lines, GayaDaltonganj via Rafiganj, Pirpaiti-Jasidih, Dhanbad-SonnagarPatratu, Sahibganj-Pirpaiti, Barwadih-Chirmari, RamnaSingrauli, Padapahar-Banspani, Barbil-Barajamda , Manoharpur-Bondamunda 3rd line, Rajkharsawan-Chakradharpur, Goilkera-Posoita, Gamharia-Adityapur , Dangoaposi-Jhinkpani and Barkichampi-Tori lines besides doubling of Bondamunda-Ranchi line.

Southeastern railway general manager SN Agarwal said the Barkichampi-Tori section will be completed by March this year and train operation is likely by June.

Similarly, the Sini 3rd line and Rajkharsawan-Chakradharpur line will be completed by March and June this year, respectively.

The railway ministry has cleared 11 new projects for Jharkhand totaling 984 km with an investment outlay of ₹11,195 crore.

The route electrification of Bonidanga link cabin and Bonidanga-Barharwa-SahibganjKiul section in Santhal Pargana, Ranchi-Lohardaga-Tori section and Koderma-Hazaribag-Barkakana-Ranchi section is also underway.

For hassle free commuting, the railways have commissioned 30 road under bridges, 24 road over bridges and decided to do away with 72 unmanned level crossings.

More than a dozen trains, Vishakapatnam-Tatanagar-Vishakapatnam express, Hatia-Yesvantpur-Hatia express, Tatanagar-Yesvantpur-Tatanagar express, Ranchi-New Jalpaiguri express (all weekly trains) , were introduced in the last two years.

Other trains include Tatanagar-Chakulia-Tatanagar passenger, Hatia-Rourkela-Hatia passenger, Koderma-Hazaribag passenger and Koderma-Gaya passenger.