Crucial Rail Link Of Dalli Rajhara - Rowghat Line Connecting Tribal Regions Of Chhattisgarh, Nearing Completion

Facing many years of procedural and clearance related hurdles, construction of the 95 km long Dalli Rajhara - Rowghat line, a key link for enhancing rail connectivity to Chhattisgarh, is on the fast track mode and nearing completion.

According to the Railways, the Rs 1,627 crore Dalli Rajhara - Rowghat rail line project is expected to be completed this year as 95 per cent of the work is over now.

Aiming at facilitating faster transportation of iron ore to Bhilai Steel Plant Part, the 95 km line is part of the 235 km long Rowghat rail link project.

The enhanced rail connectivity to Chhattisgarh key iron ore reserves will benefit tribals of the region.

The Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) had signed the agreement with the Railways, National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) and Chhattisgarh government to lay 235-km Raoghat rail line to facilitate iron ore transportation to Bhilai Steel Plant (BSP).

The line will connect Dallirajhara-Raoghat and Jagdalpur and also serve tribal-predominated Bastar region.

The 235-km-long railway line is being constructed in two phases. Work on the first phase of the 95 km-long track from Dalli Rajhara to Rowghat is in progress, to be followed by the construction of 140 km long second phase from Rowghat to Jagdalpur.

At present, two of Indian Railways' subsidiaries — RVNL (Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd) and IRCON (Indian Railway Construction Organisation) — are engaged in implementing the project.

The work on Phase 1 of 95 km from Dalli Rajhara to Rowghat is being executed by RVNL, while IRCON is working on Phase 2 from Rowghat to Jagdalpur.

The project will help mineral prospecting in the region. The area had large iron ore deposits. The economy of the tribal belt facing Naxal problems is also expected to improve.

The proposed rail line has become critical for supporting the iron ore needs of Bhilai Steel Plant, NDMC's iron ore supply in Chhattisgarh and to support the Nagarnar Steel Plant for inward and outward traffic and also to cater to the passenger and goods transport needs of those residing along the area  in Chhattisgarh.

At present, Bhilai Steel Plant is getting iron ore from Dalli Rajhara where the reserve is reported to be fast depleting. The remaining reserve is estimated to last for not more than a few years.

Further, Bhilai Steel Plant is also expanding its crude steel capacity to 7 million tonnes per annum from the current 3.925 million tonnes per annum.

Once the new rail link is established it would be easier to haul iron ore from the proposed Rowghat mines needed for Bhilai Steel Plant providing an efficient and economical means of transporting iron ore.