New Delhi, Apr 18 (UNI) A new railway line and passenger train service in the insurgency-dominated Kanker district in North Bastar, Chhattisgarh recently inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a big boost for the areas, an official communique of the Railway Ministry said here on Wednesday.
The much-awaited railway line, which connects Dallirajhara in Balod district to Bhanupratappur in North Bastar was flagged off by the Prime Minister via video-conferencing on the birth anniversary of the architect of Constitution Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar at village Jangla in Bijapur district. The inaugural passenger train was run by all – women staff.
A 235 km long railway track is part of the rail project linking Dallirajhara – Rowghat – Jagdalpur, connects Durg – Raipur directly.
This line will reduce rail distance between Raipur to Jagdalpur by about 260 kms. This will boost socio-economic interaction between the capital of Chattisgarh and backward areas in and around Bastar region.
Apart from boosting people to people interaction, this new link will contribute to exploration and development of iron ore-rich Rowghat. The Bhilai Steel Plant gets its iron- ore supplies from Dallirajhara mines but in future, Rowghat mines will be the primary source of iron ore for Bhilai Steel Plant as the mines reserve is almost exploited.

This project after completion will bring remote, densely forested areas over rail map of Chhattisgarh. Rowghat will develop as growth point with forward and backward linkages and will have the overall positive impact on economic development of surrounding region.
“As this line will connect people of this region to Capital City Raipur, it would help open new opportunities of higher education and tertiary medical care for the people of this region. This rail line can truly be said as “Pragati Ki Railgaadi” for people of this region” the release said.
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