Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw joined the programme virtually from New Delhi. The newly inaugurated sections comprise the Tadoki-Rowghat stretch and the Abhanpur-Kurud broad-gauge line. Passenger services were launched between Rowghat and Raipur, and between Raipur and Kurud.
Addressing the event, Sai said the new railway links would improve connectivity, particularly for people living in remote areas. He highlighted the expansion of railway infrastructure in Chhattisgarh and said the state's annual railway budget allocation had increased from around Rs 300 crore during 2004–2014 to more than Rs 7,000 crore under the current central government.
The Rowghat-Raipur service addresses a long-standing demand for improved rail connectivity in the region. The Raipur-Dhamtari route previously had a narrow-gauge line, and work is underway to extend the broad-gauge network beyond Kurud to Dhamtari.
Sai also cited other railway projects sanctioned in the state, including the Parmalkasa-Kharsia corridor, the 182 km Ambikapur-Barwadih project connecting Chhattisgarh with Jharkhand, and the Rowghat-Jagdalpur line. He said 32 railway stations in Chhattisgarh were being upgraded, with eight already completed and dedicated to the nation.
Vaishnaw said the Centre was prioritising rail connectivity in areas that had remained outside the railway network for decades. He noted that the newly completed Tadoki-Rowghat section connected Raipur to Rowghat via Dallirajhara, with plans to extend the link to Jagdalpur, Koraput in Odisha and Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh. He also said Sai had prioritised land acquisition for the Rowghat-Jagdalpur railway line.
Vaishnaw said railway projects worth approximately Rs 57,000 crore were being implemented in Chhattisgarh and confirmed that the state had achieved complete railway electrification. He added that funding would not be a constraint for railway development in the state.
The proposed electric locomotive maintenance facility in Raipur will cater to modern 9,000-horsepower locomotives. According to the railway minister, these locomotives meet international standards and could potentially be exported in the future.
Officials said the 95 km Dallirajhara-Rowghat railway project was completed last month, following the laying of tracks on the final 17.5 km stretch between Tadoki and Rowghat. Passenger services were already operating on the 77.5 km Dallirajhara-Tadoki section, while operations on the newly completed section began on Tuesday.
The electrified, single-line broad-gauge section forms part of the approximately 240 km Dallirajhara-Rowghat-Jagdalpur railway project. The project is being implemented through a joint venture involving the Chhattisgarh government, National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC), Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) and Indian Railways.
The railway link is expected to improve connectivity across remote parts of the Bastar region and facilitate the movement of iron ore from the Rowghat mines to SAIL's Bhilai Steel Plant in Durg district. The project is also expected to strengthen freight and passenger connectivity across southern Chhattisgarh and support regional economic activity.
