Jasidih–Dumka–Rampurhat line

Jasidih–Dumka–Rampurhat line is a single 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) broad gauge track from Jasidih in Deoghar District in Santhal Pargana division of Jharkhand state to Rampurhat in Birbhum District of West Bengal state. The line connects the cultural capital of Jharkhand Deoghar to the subcapital of Jharkhand, Dumka. The Jasidih–Dumka section falls under Asansol Division of Eastern Railway and Dumka–Rampurhat section under Howrah Division of Eastern Railway.

Jasidih–Dumka–Rampurhat line
Jasidih Dumka Rampurhat line
Jasidih Dumka Rampurhat line
Map of Jasidih–Dumka–Rampurhat line
Overview
StatusOperational
OwnerIndian Railways
LocaleJharkhand, West Bengal, India
Termini
Stations16
Service
TypeDiesel
Servicesvia Dumka
Operator(s)Eastern Railway zone
History
Opened2011 (2011)
Technical
Line length135 km (84 mi)
Number of tracks1
Track gauge1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
Operating speed110 km/h (68 mph)
Route map
km
130
0
 Jasidih
5
 Satsang nagar
6
 Baidyanathdham Deoghar
124
0
 Deoghar
6
 New Nawadih
Jharkhand
Bihar
14
 Chandan
22
 Bhalua
Right arrow
to Sultanganj (planned)
30
 Katoriya
40
 Karjhausa
50
 Kakbara
Right arrow
to Betiah Road (planned)
55
 Banka
57
 Banka Road
Chandan River
61
 Murahara
66
 Telia
Up arrow
Dumka–Bhagalpur line
70
 Barahat
Down arrow
Dumka–Bhagalpur line
114
 Mohanpur
Right arrow
to Hansdiha
108
 Sirsa Nunthar Halt
102
 Ghormara
96
 Dhanpatdih
88
 Chandanpahari
Left arrow
to Chitra (planned)
79
 Basukinath
70
 Jama
Up arrow
Dumka–Bhagalpur line
61
 New Madanpur
57
 Dumka
51
 Kurwa
40
 Barmasia
33
 Ambajora Shikaripara
26
 Harinsing
Jharkhand
West Bengal
19
 Pinargaria
12
 Adalapahari
Right arrow
Sahibganj loop
0
 Rampurhat
Down arrow
Sahibganj loop
km

History

The railway line to connect Santhal Pargana with Bengal was conceived by the British in 1850s to exploit the natural resources but was not implemented due to Santhal rebellion of 1855. Demands were raised for a railway line many times after independence. Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee approved the railway line and laid the foundation stone in 1999.[1]

Deoghar is an important railway station on the Jasidih–Dumka–Rampurhat railway line. Due to the importance of Deoghar as a religious place, a railway line from Jasidih to Baidyanathdham Deoghar has been in existence for a long time. The old Deoghar railway station Baidyanathdham Deoghar railway station, however, was located inside the town, so the railway line could not be extended through densely inhabited areas. Therefore, a new railway line was built from Jasidih and a new Deoghar Junction railway station north of Deoghar was built.

The 71 km segment from Jasidih Junction to Dumka via Deoghar became operational on 12 July 2011.[2] The track from Dumka to Ambajora Sikaripara became operational in June 2014. The track from Rampurhat to Pinargaria became operational on 25 November 2012. The short distance of 10 km from Ambajora Sikaripara to Pinargaria was completed at the beginning of 2015 and became operational on 4 June 2015 when a passenger train started operating from Dumka to Rampurhat.[3]

The line reduces the distance between Jasidih Junction and Rampurhat by 135 km, from 270 km via Asansol Junction.

Branch Lines

Dumka–Bhagalpur line

Construction of a new Dumka–Bhagalpur railway line was taken up as an associated project to connect Dumka with Bhagalpur. The new railway line takes off from Dumka railway station towards the north and connects with Bhagalpur Junction railway station. The 51 km railway line from Bhagalpur to Banka and Mandar Hill already existed. The railway line extended from Mandar Hill to Hansdiha was inaugurated on 22 December 2012. The 14 km line from Dumka to Barapalasi station was commissioned in February 2014.[4] The remaining section from Barapalasi to Hansdiha was opened for passenger trains on 28 September 2016. This Bhagalpur–Dumka–Rampurhat railway line serves as alternative option for railway traffic from Bhagalpur to Howrah and decreases distance between Bhagalpur and Howrah by nearly 70 kilometers.

Deoghar–Banka line

Two lines branch out from Deoghar Junction railway station. The railway line to Dumka goes east of Deoghar. The other line to Banka goes towards the north and connects with Banka railway station passing through New Nawadih, Chandan, Bhalua, Katoria, Kharjhounsa and Kakwara railway stations. The railway line will serve devotees once a direct train start running between Deoghar and Sultanganj via Bhagalpur, Banka. A daily passenger train runs between Jasidih and Banka which operates once a day, except on Sundays.

Trains

One passenger train runs from Jasidih to Banka and Rampurhat, while three such trains run to Dumka. Passenger train service exists from Dumka to Rampurhat, Bhagalpur and Godda. One intercity train runs from Dumka to Ranchi via Jasidih. One express train named Kaviguru Express runs between Jamalpur and Howrah via Dumka. Banka–Rajendra Nagar Terminal Intercity Express and Deoghar–Agartala Weekly Express run on Deoghar–Banka–Bhagalpur line. Godda–New Delhi Humsafar Express is the only premium train which runs on this route, connecting Santhal Parganas to the national capital.

Further extensions

The railways have proposed a Jasidih–bypass line after construction of which trains from Bhagalpur and Dumka can proceed to Asansol and Dhanbad without locomotive reversal at Jasidih, also saving time for the passengers. Deoghar Junction is being developed as a major halt station to decongest Jasidih and avoid a delay of more than 30 minutes for an engine change at Jasidih. There are also surverys going on for a new line to connect Banka with Nawada railway station on the Gaya–Kiul line via Jamui.[5]

Deoghar–Sultanganj line

A 116-kilometre (72 mi)-long new railway line was proposed to be built between Deoghar & Sultanganj in Bihar in the budget of 2007-08. The line is proposed to branch of from Katoriya railway station on the Deoghar-Banka line and reach Sultanganj railway station on the Sahibganj loop via Belhar, Sangrampur, Tarapur & Asarganj. Work however has not begun yet due to non-acquisition of land.[6][7]

Jasidih–Pirpainti line

The 97-kilometre (60 mi)-long Jasidih–Hansdiha–Pirpainti line is under construction. As of 2021, work is under progress in Mohanpur–Hansdiha and Godda–Pirpainti sections. The 32-kilometre (20 mi) Hansdiha–Godda section was inaugurated on 8 April 2021 and a Humsafar Express runs weekly from Godda to New Delhi. This line is considered important to connect the Godda district in the Santhal Pargana division of Jharkhand with the rest of India. The 80-kilometre (50 mi) Godda–Pakur line is also planned.

See also

References
  1. "17-year-old promise chugs in". www.telegraphindia.com. Archived from the original on 30 September 2016.
  2. "Dumka-Jasidih trains". The Telegraph (Calcutta). 12 June 2011. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 11 April 2012.
  3. Train Service; India times, accessed June 2017
  4. Passenger Train; Times of India
  5. "2020-21 Integrated Budgetary Financial Figure for East Central Railway" (PDF). Retrieved 18 September 2021.
  6. "Indian Government's reply to Yadav Shri Jay Prakash Narayan" (PDF). Retrieved 18 September 2021.
  7. "रेलवे की फाइल में जिंदा है सुल्तानगंज-देवघर-बांका लाइन, केंद्रीय बजट में इस रेल लाइन को मिले महज 44 हजार". Retrieved 18 September 2021.
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