Raipur: Naxal affected Rowghat to get maiden railway line

Rowghat, a Naxal affected area in Raipur, will get its first railway line bringing cheers among the locals.

Chief Secretary Vivek Dhaand describing about the significance of the project said, that the project is aimed to connect Rowghat to main Dilli Rajhara, where the Bhilai Steel plant is located.

He said that Rowghat is one of the resource rich areas, capable to provide 30 years worth of iron ores to the Bhilai steel plant.

The railway line is being built at a cost of 900 crore rupees.

"Deposits of iron ores are depleting fast in the Bhilai steel plant. It needs large amount of supply to meet its output. The present railway line intends to connect Rowghat to Dilli Rajhara to get continuous supply of iron ores. Since it would impossible to transport huge amounts of iron ore through roadways, we need this railway line to complete as soon as possible," he told ANI.

When asked about the possible hindrance from the Naxals, Dhaand said that the government has provided adequate security arrangements, as two battalions of Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and one battalion of Border Security Force (BSF) have been manned at the construction site to thwart such extremist forces.

He said that the railway line will be completed within two to three years.

He further said that the railway line will not only benefit locals but also will also spur development in the state.

Meanwhile, locals, who used to travel to Raipur to board trains, have expressed happiness.

"Earlier we used to go to Raipur, which is 33 kilometres far, catch a train. Now the new railway station will be useful for us. During rains roadways gets muddied which becomes difficult for us to travel to adjoining districts, with the new railway line, the connectivity will become far easier," said Laksha, a local.

Dhaand, further said that Chief Minister Raman Singh is mulling to build another Steel plant either in Raoghat or Antagarh.