Ashwini Vaishnaw and Vishnu Deo Sai flag off Rowghat–Raipur and Raipur–Kurud passenger services; ₹54,000 crore worth of railway projects underway in Chhattisgarh
TFP Bureau, Raipur, October 20, 2026: Chhattisgarh marked a historic milestone in railway connectivity on Tuesday as Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai inaugurated the Tadoki–Rowghat and Abhanpur–Kurud rail sections and flagged off new passenger train services between Rowghat–Raipur and Raipur–Kurud.
The event also saw the foundation stone laid for a modern electric locomotive maintenance facility in Raipur, which is planned to handle 300 high-horsepower electric locomotives.
The arrival of trains at Rowghat for the first time since Independence is expected to improve connectivity for remote and tribal areas of Bastar and southern Chhattisgarh, opening up opportunities in trade, education, healthcare, tourism and employment.
Congratulating the people of the state, Sai said the new rail link represented more than the completion of an infrastructure project. It would connect previously underserved areas with the state capital and wider markets, helping accelerate economic activity and create new livelihood opportunities.
He said railway development had gained momentum under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with the Centre and state government working to extend modern transport infrastructure beyond major cities to remote and tribal regions, including Bastar and Surguja.
₹54,000 crore worth of railway projects underway
Addressing the event, Vaishnaw said railway projects worth approximately ₹54,000 crore were underway in Chhattisgarh. The state has received a railway budget allocation of ₹7,470 crore for the current financial year, he said.
He described the inauguration of the Rowghat rail link and the launch of the new passenger services as important steps in strengthening the state’s railway network.
Vaishnaw also referred to plans to extend rail connectivity from Rowghat towards Jagdalpur and further strengthen links between southern Chhattisgarh and major economic centres. The proposed expansion of the Rowghat–Jagdalpur–Koraput–Visakhapatnam corridor is expected to improve connectivity with wider rail networks.
Rowghat link to support Bastar’s economic growth
The 95-km Dalli-Rajhara–Rowghat railway project has been completed at an estimated cost of ₹1,628 crore. The completion of the 17.5-km Tadoki–Rowghat section has brought rail connectivity to Rowghat.
The link is expected to improve transport facilities for local residents and support the movement of iron ore from the region. It is also expected to benefit industrial activity, including the supply requirements of the Bhilai Steel Plant.
Sai said railway connectivity could help local producers reach larger markets while creating fresh opportunities for tourism, trade and employment. He added that Bastar was moving towards a new phase of peace, trust and development, supported by the expansion of roads, railways, electricity and telecommunications.
Raipur–Kurud service strengthens regional connectivity
The 22-km Abhanpur–Kurud section has been converted to broad gauge under the Abhanpur–Dhamtari gauge conversion project. The launch of the Raipur–Kurud passenger service is expected to improve travel options for commuters in the region.
Sai said the earlier narrow-gauge railway service between Raipur and Dhamtari was being upgraded to modern broad-gauge infrastructure. Work on the remaining Kurud–Dhamtari section is underway. Once completed, it will enable broad-gauge connectivity between Raipur and Dhamtari.
The new passenger services are expected to benefit students, employees, farmers, traders and other travellers by improving access to the state capital and its educational, healthcare and commercial facilities.
1,328 km of new tracks laid since 2014
Highlighting the expansion of railway infrastructure, Sai said approximately 1,328 km of new railway tracks had been laid in Chhattisgarh since 2014. He contrasted this with the roughly 32 km of new rail lines added before that period, citing the figures as evidence of the increased emphasis on railway development.
He said the state’s annual railway budget allocation had risen from approximately ₹300 crore during the previous period to ₹7,470 crore in the current financial year.
Alongside new lines, work is progressing on track doubling, electrification, station redevelopment and passenger amenities, he said.
32 stations being upgraded
A total of 32 railway stations in Chhattisgarh are being developed with modern facilities, of which eight have been completed, according to Sai.
The upgrades aim to improve passenger amenities, station infrastructure and the overall travel experience. The Chief Minister said modern stations could also support commercial activity, tourism and employment in surrounding areas.
Raipur to get locomotive maintenance facility
The foundation stone was laid for a modern electric locomotive maintenance facility in Raipur, designed to maintain 300 high-horsepower electric locomotives.
The proposed facility is expected to strengthen locomotive maintenance capacity, improve operational efficiency and support growing freight transportation needs. It could also contribute to the development of railway-related technical infrastructure in the state.
New projects to expand connectivity
Sai thanked the Prime Minister and the Union Railway Minister for supporting railway expansion in Chhattisgarh. He referred to proposed and ongoing projects, including the Kharsia–Parmalkasa, Rowghat–Jagdalpur and Dongargarh–Katghora rail lines, which are expected to improve connectivity across different parts of the state.
He also referred to the proposed extension of rail connectivity from Pathalgaon in Jashpur district towards the Lohardaga region.
The Chief Minister said improved transport links were particularly important for Chhattisgarh’s remote, forested and tribal areas. Better connectivity, he added, could help students reach educational institutions, patients access healthcare, farmers transport their produce and young people find employment opportunities.
Railway expansion marks Vijayadashami milestone
Describing the launch of the new services on Vijayadashami as a source of pride for the state, Sai said the projects marked the beginning of a new phase of development for Bastar and other underserved regions.
He said the government would continue working to connect more remote areas to the modern railway network and strengthen Chhattisgarh’s economy through improved transport infrastructure.
Raipur MP Brijmohan Agrawal, Mahasamund MP Rupkumari Choudhary, Rajya Sabha MP Lakshmi Verma, Kanker MP Bhojraj Nag, MLAs Rajesh Moonat, Motilal Sahu and Purandar Mishra, former MP and MLA Vikram Usendi, South East Central Railway General Manager Tarun Prakash and Divisional Railway Manager Dayanand were among those present at the event, along with other public representatives and citizens.
