Ensuring all-round progress for Jharkhand, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal has dedicated Hansdiha-Godda new line to the nation and flagged off Godda-New Delhi Humsafar special train through video conferencing.
This new line will provide better transportation facilities and facilitate cost effective and quicker movement of commodities, giving impetus to social-economic development in Dumka and Godda in Jharkhand. During the event, Railway Board chairman Suneet Sharma and other dignitaries were present.
Goyal said, “Jharkhand is famous for minerals and many holy places. Indian Railways is contributing in transforming its potential into reality. This project Hansdiha-Godda was approved in 2011, however no progress was made until 2014.”
“In 2014, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi reviewed the projects, it was disclosed that land was not acquired for this project. Upon the direction of the Prime Minister, swift progress was made on this new line project. Till now, this project has attracted an investment of Rs 550 crore. With this new Hansdiha-Godda rail line, the area would develop at a faster pace generating more employment opportunities, in future. Kisan Rail may be started to transport the produce of farmers from this area.”
Goyal also added that presently 36 rail projects are being executed in Jharkhand with an investment of Rs 20,000 crore.
He said that Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor which passes through Jharkhand would provide an impetus to the economy of the state.
Indian Railways is striving to build new infrastructure enhancing not only its network capacity but also providing better experience to travellers. It is towards this goal that the Indian Railways has commissioned Hansdiha-Godda new line projects in Jharkhand.
A total of Rs 663 crore has been spent on the development of infrastructure work and providing passenger amenities in Jharkhand.
Commissioning of Hansdiha-Godda new line remained a long pending demand of the people of Jharkhand. This will accelerate infrastructure development and connectivity for this part of the state. The total length of the new line project is 32 km, which runs through Godda and Dumka districts of Jharkhand.
The total number of stations in the new line project of Jharkhand is five — Hansdiha, Gangwara, Poreyahat, Kathwan and Godda. Infrastructure development and passenger amenities have been augmented in all the five stations.
The speed potential of this 32-km new stretch is 120 km per hour. While commissioning the new line project, two major bridges and 33 minor bridges have been constructed.
Hansdiha-Godda railway line is a coal priority project and the railways took all possible steps for speedy completion of the project keeping in view the movement of industrial inputs like coal and rapid development of business and industries as well as employment generation in Jharkhand.
Further, introduction of train services in this new line will benefit commute to Delhi. Introduction of this new superfast Humsafar Express train from Godda to New Delhi will facilitate a comfortable journey to New Delhi through Bhagalpur.