New Delhi : Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL), Navratna CPSE under Ministry of Railways Government of India has achieved a major milestone with the completion of the 95-km Dallirajhara–Rowghat New Rail Line Project in Chhattisgarh, with the completion and safety clearance of the final 17.5-km Taroki–Rowghat section.
The project forms part of Raipur Division of South East Central Railway (SECR) and traverses the civil districts of Balod and Kanker in Chhattisgarh. Dallirajhara, the starting point of the new line, is in Balod district, while the alignment beyond Dallirajhara, including Bhanupratappur, Antagarh, Taroki and Rowghat, lies in Kanker district.
The Taroki–Rowghat section is a single-line electrified broad-gauge railway. It has successfully undergone inspection and speed trial by the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) and has been authorised for operation at 80 kmph, without any speed restriction. The section comprises 61 minor bridges, including 7 Road Under Bridges (RUBs) and 5 Road Over Bridges (ROBs), and 3 major bridges, besides electrification, signalling and other railway infrastructure.
Part of the Larger 235-km Dallirajhara–Rowghat–Jagdalpur Corridor
The Dallirajhara–Rowghat line is Phase-I of the larger 235-km Dallirajhara–Rowghat–Jagdalpur New Rail Line Project, conceived to provide rail connectivity to the remote areas of the Bastar region as well as facilitate transportation of iron ore from the Rowghat mines.
The larger corridor comprises:
- Phase-I: Dallirajhara–Rowghat – 95 km
- Phase-II: Rowghat–Jagdalpur – 140 km
RVNL was entrusted with execution of the 95-km Dallirajhara–Rowghat Phase-I, with funding support from Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL). The remaining 140-km Rowghat–Jagdalpur section is being taken forward separately by Indian Railways.
Strategic Link for Bhilai Steel Plant
The new railway provides connectivity from Rowghat through Taroki, Antagarh, Keoti, Bhanupratappur and Gudum to Dallirajhara, where it connects with the existing railway network towards Durg and Bhilai.
The project is strategically important for facilitating the transportation of iron ore from the Rowghat mines to the Bhilai Steel Plant (BSP) of SAIL.
The Ministry of Railways has specifically identified iron-ore transportation to Bhilai Steel Plant as one of the principal objectives of the new line.
The line will also strengthen movement of agricultural produce and local commercial goods and improve connectivity of remote areas with Raipur and Bhilai, facilitating access to education, healthcare, employment and trade.
Railway Built Under Challenging Conditions
The project was executed in remote, forested and difficult terrain, including areas affected by Left Wing Extremism. Construction activities were undertaken under dedicated security cover of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB).
Work sites were sanitised every day before movement of men and machinery was permitted. In view of security protocols, personnel and machinery had to be brought back to secured camps before sunset. These exceptional conditions added considerably to the complexity of project execution. Despite these challenges, RVNL successfully completed the entire 95-km Phase-I.
Final Link to Rowghat
The completion of the 17.5-km Taroki–Rowghat section marks the final link of the 95-km Dallirajhara–Rowghat project. With this, rail infrastructure has reached Rowghat, an important iron-ore region of south Chhattisgarh.
The CRS inspection and speed trial covered the track, bridges, culverts, electrification, signalling and other safety and technical arrangements. The authorisation for operation at 80 kmph marks a significant milestone towards operationalisation of the completed section.
Boost to Regional Development
Beyond its industrial significance, the project is expected to contribute to the socio-economic development of Balod and Kanker districts and the wider Bastar region by providing improved rail connectivity, facilitating movement of goods and supporting tourism, investment, employment and other economic activities.
The completion of the Dallirajhara–Rowghat line marks a significant achievement for RVNL in executing complex railway infrastructure in challenging terrain and security conditions, while strengthening the logistics chain of the steel industry and extending the railway network into remote areas of south Chhattisgarh
