Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai Flag Off Raoghat–Raipur and Raipur–Kurud Passenger Train Services

Raipur, October 20, 2026/ Chhattisgarh added a historic chapter to the expansion of its railway connectivity on Tuesday as Union Railway Minister Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw and Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai flagged off the new Raoghat–Raipur and Raipur–Kurud passenger train services from Raipur Railway Station. On the occasion, the Tadoki–Raoghat and Abhanpur–Kurud rail sections were inaugurated, and the foundation stone was laid for a modern electric locomotive maintenance facility in Raipur.

With the completion of the railway line from Tadoki to Raoghat, the remote region of Raoghat has been connected to the rail network for the first time since Independence. This milestone is particularly significant for the remote and tribal areas of Bastar and southern Chhattisgarh. The new passenger services will improve connectivity with the state capital, Raipur, and other major centres, facilitating travel while providing fresh impetus to trade, industry, education, healthcare, employment and the local economy.

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Congratulating the people of Chhattisgarh on the historic occasion, Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai said railway infrastructure development in the state has gained unprecedented momentum under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. He said that the Centre and state governments, working together under the double-engine governance model, are committed to ensuring that modern railway facilities reach not only major cities but also remote and tribal regions, including Bastar and Surguja.

Chief Minister Shri Sai said that arrival of trains in Raoghat was not merely the completion of a railway project but the opening of new avenues for Bastar’s development. Wherever railway connectivity expands, development gathers momentum. It makes travel easier, improves access to markets, encourages industries and investment, and creates new employment and livelihood opportunities for young people. He added that the railway services, inaugurated on the auspicious occasion of Vijayadashami, are a matter of joy and pride for Chhattisgarh. The Raoghat–Raipur and Raipur–Kurud services would strengthen the state’s connectivity and open new avenues for development.

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Addresing the programme, Union Railway Minister Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw said that extensive work is underway to develop railway infrastructure in Chhattisgarh under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. Railway development projects worth approximately ₹54,000 crore are currently underway in the state. This year, Chhattisgarh has received a railway budget allocation of ₹7,470 crore. He said that the establishment of rail connectivity to Raoghat and the launch of the Raoghat–Raipur and Raipur–Kurud passenger services are important milestones in this broader development journey. Efforts are also underway to extend railway connectivity from Raoghat to Jagdalpur. In addition, initiatives were being pursued to expand the Raoghat–Jagdalpur–Koraput–Visakhapatnam rail corridor. These developments would further strengthen the connectivity of Bastar and southern Chhattisgarh with major railway networks and economic centres across the country.

Rail Connectivity Reaches Raoghat for the First Time Since Independence

The Dalli Rajhara–Raoghat railway project is one of Chhattisgarh’s significant rail infrastructure initiatives. With an estimated cost of approximately ₹1,628 crore, the project spans around 95 kilometres. The completion of the 17.5-kilometre railway line between Tadoki and Raoghat has established rail connectivity to Raoghat. The arrival of trains in Raoghat for the first time since Independence marks a historic achievement for the Bastar region. This connection strengthens the link between remote tribal areas and the state capital, as well as other major centres. Along with improved transport facilities for local residents, it is expected to encourage economic activity, tourism, trade and industrial development in the region.

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Raipur–Kurud Service Marks Major Step Towards Broad-Gauge Connectivity to Dhamtari

Under the Abhanpur–Dhamtari gauge conversion project, gauge conversion work on approximately 22 kilometres of railway line between Abhanpur and Kurud has been completed. The launch of the new passenger service between Raipur and Kurud marks a significant improvement in railway connectivity for the region.

Chief Minister Shri Sai said that a narrow-gauge service had previously operated between Raipur and Dhamtari. The conversion of the route to broad gauge represents important progress towards providing passengers with modern and improved rail services. Once the remaining work between Kurud and Dhamtari is completed, the extension of passenger rail services from Raipur to Dhamtari will move closer to fruition.

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Chhattisgarh Has Added 1,328 Kilometres of Railway Tracks Since 2014

Chief Minister Shri Sai said that railway development in Chhattisgarh had accelerated significantly after the formation of the Central Government under Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in 2014. He stated that the state previously received approximately ₹300 crore annually for railway development, whereas the allocation has now increased to more than ₹7,000 crore.

Shri Sai said that before 2014, approximately 32 kilometres of new railway lines had been added in the state. Since 2014, around 1,328 kilometres of new railway tracks have been laid in Chhattisgarh. He said that this transformation reflected the increased priority accorded to railway development in the state under Prime Minister Shri Modi’s leadership.

He further said that, alongside the substantial increase in railway funding, work was progressing rapidly on new railway lines, track doubling, electrification, station modernisation and the expansion of passenger amenities.

Thirty-Two Railway Stations Undergoing World-Class Redevelopment

Chief Minister Shri Sai said that 32 railway stations in Chhattisgarh were being developed with modern, world-class facilities, of which eight have already been completed. The redevelopment programme places special emphasis on modern passenger amenities, improved station premises and a more convenient travel environment. He said that modern railway stations not only improve passenger facilities but also help promote economic activity, trade, tourism and employment in the cities they serve. The new railway infrastructure being developed across the state is being planned to meet future requirements.

Modern Electric Locomotive Maintenance Facility to Be Established in Raipur

The foundation stone for a modern electric locomotive maintenance facility was also laid in Raipur during the programme. Once developed, the state-of-the-art facility will have the capacity to maintain 300 high-horsepower electric locomotives. The facility will improve locomotive maintenance arrangements, enhance railway operational capacity and help meet the growing requirements of freight transportation. The project is also an important step towards developing Chhattisgarh as a significant centre for modern railway technology and maintenance infrastructure.

New Railway Projects to Extend Development to Remote Regions

Chief Minister Shri Sai expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Union Railway Minister Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw for expanding the railway network and approving new projects in Chhattisgarh. Referring to various projects, including Kharsia–Parmalaksa, Raoghat–Jagdalpur and Dongargarh–Katghora, he said that these initiatives would further strengthen railway connectivity across several parts of the state.

Chief Minister Shri Sai also thanked the Union Railway Minister for including the demand to extend railway connectivity from Pathalgaon in Jashpur district towards the Lohardaga region in the special package. He said that Chhattisgarh is geographically vast, with a large population living in remote, forested and tribal areas. Expanding the railway network into these regions could bring significant changes to people’s lives. Better connectivity would make it easier for students to access education, patients to reach improved healthcare facilities, farmers and producers to access larger markets, and young people to pursue employment opportunities.

He said that the government’s objective was to ensure that the benefits of development reached the last person in society, and modern transport infrastructure is an important means of achieving this commitment.

Rail Connectivity Opens New Possibilities for Bastar’s Development

Chief Minister Shri Sai said that Bastar is advancing steadily on a new path of peace, trust and development. Roads, railways, electricity, telecommunications and other essential infrastructure were being expanded continuously in the region. The arrival of trains in Raoghat would further accelerate this transformation.

He said that improved rail connectivity would bring greater national and international recognition to Bastar’s natural and cultural heritage. It would facilitate the transportation of local products to larger markets and create new opportunities for tourism, trade and industrial activity.

Chhattisgarh Receives Major Development Boost on Vijayadashami

Extending Vijayadashami greetings to the people of the state, Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai said the festival symbolised the victory of truth over falsehood and righteousness over unrighteousness. Receiving new passenger train services and modern railway infrastructure on this auspicious occasion was a source of happiness and pride for the people of Chhattisgarh.

He said that the state’s railway network was expanding continuously under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and through the efforts of Union Railway Minister Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw. The double-engine government is working with the commitment to connect every region of Chhattisgarh with the mainstream of development.

Chief Minister Shri Sai said that the arrival of trains in Raoghat marks the beginning of a new development journey. In the coming years, further expansion of the modern railway network to remote parts of the state would help Chhattisgarh advance towards becoming a developed state with better connectivity, a stronger economy and wider opportunities.

Those present at the programme included Raipur MP Shri Brijmohan Agrawal, Mahasamund MP Smt. Roopkumari Choudhary, Rajya Sabha MP Smt. Laxmi Verma, Kanker MP Shri Bhojraj Nag, MLAs Shri Rajesh Munat, Shri Motilal Sahu and Shri Purandar Mishra, former MP and MLA Shri Vikram Usendi, South East Central Railway General Manager Shri Tarun Prakash, Divisional Railway Manager Shri Dayanand, and a large number of dignitaries and public representatives.