DEMU service from Tatanagar to Badampahar: J'khand guv thanks

Jharkhand Governor Droupadi Murmu Saturday thanked the Ministry of Railways for starting a DEMU passenger train service from Tatanagar in Jharkhand to Odisha's Badampahar.

The governor also took a ride in the DEMU Passenger train after Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the second rail service between Tatanagar and Badampahar through a video link from Odisha's Baripada.

Murmu travelled from Tatanagar to Haldipokhar, a distance of about 22 km.

Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das was also present at the flagging off ceremony organized at Tatanagar Raiway station here.

The first train service was launched between the two mineral-rich stations 107 years ago, she said while speaking on the occasion.

After a long wait, the second rail service has been launched 107 years after the first rail service and 70 years after India became an independent country, she said.

The Tata-Badampahar single line has a history as private steel major Tata Steel has been procuring its iron ore from Badampahar, Gurumhisani and Sulaipat in Odisha through this rail route, and the steel city here developed as an Industrial town, she said.

Murmu said the social and economic development of Badampahar was largely depended on Tatanagar, also known as Jamshedpur, as the distance between the two places is barely 70 to 80 km.

Badampahar is a tribal-dominated town and the launch of the new service would ensure its social and economic growth, Murmu said.

Directly or indirectly a large number of people would be benefited from the new facility, the governor said, adding that linking the rail services with Keonjhar in Odisha would give impetus to the development of the region.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Raghubar Das said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is striving to take the country to a new height.

Referring to the foundation stone laying of Mandal dam project in Palamau district by Modi on Saturday, Das said the Union government and the state government were working in tandem for all-round development.

The chief minister assured that his government would make an effort to set up double track railway lines up to Keonjhar.