Jasidih–Dumka–Rampurhat line

Jasidih–Dumka–Rampurhat line
Track gauge Broad gauge 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
km from Howrah–Delhi main line 0 Jasidih Junction 6 Deoghar 7 to Banka Junction 14 Nowadih Jharkhand–Bihar border 25 Chandan to Banka Junction --------------------------------- 11 State Highway 6 16 Mohanpur Trukati Hills 392m 26 Ghormara 40 Chandanpahari 49 Basukinath 59 Jama 64 State Highway 6 65 to Bhagalpur 71 Baraplasi 82 Nonihat 89 Kurmahat 100 Hansdiha 109 Kumradol Jharkhand–Bihar border 115 Pandetola 124 Mandar hill 128 Mandar Vidyapith Halt 133 Panjwara Road to Banka 4 Telia 8 Murahara 15 Banka --------------------------------- 138 Barahat 142 Punsia 149 Dhauni 155 Sanjha 160 Tikani 165 Hatpuraini 166 Gani Dham Halt 168 Kollikhutaha 176 Bhagalpur to Sahibganj Loop --------------------------------- 65 Madanpur Halt 72 Dumka 77 Kurwa 90 Barmasia 97 Sikaripara 110 Harinsing 117 Piragaria Jharkhand–West Bengal border 124 Adalpahari 136 Rampurhat to Sahibganj Loop

Jasidih–Dumka–Rampurhat line is a section of Indian Railways under the Asansol division of Eastern Railway. The single broad gauge 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) track was constructed from Jasidih city in Deoghar District in Santhal Pargana division of Jharkhand state to Rampurhat in Birbhum District of West Bengal state. The line connects the 'Cultural Capital of Jharkhand' Deoghar to the subcapital of Jharkhand, Dumka.

Status of the project

The 71 kilometres (44 mi) segment from Jasidih Junction to Dumka became operational on 12 July 2011.^[1] The track from Dumka to Ambajora Sikaripara (before known as Sikaripara) became operational in June 2014. The track from Rampurhat to Pinargaria became operational on 25 November 2012. The short distance of 10 km from Ambajora Sikaripara to Pinargaria was completed at the beginning of 2015 and became operational on 4 June 2015 when a passenger train started operating from Dumka to Rampurhat.^[2] Several new connections between West Bengal and Bihar will now become possible.

The line reduces the distance between Jasidih Junction and Rampurhat by 135 kilometres (84 mi), from earlier about 270 kilometres (170 mi) via Asansol Junction.

Deoghar–Banka railway line

Construction of a new Deoghar–Banka railway line is a separate project.

Deoghar is an important railway station on Jasidih–Dumka–Rampurhat railway line, 6 km from Jasidih junction. A railway line from Jasidih to Deoghar has existed for a long time due to the importance of Deoghar as a religious place. However the old Deoghar railway station (called Vaidyanathdham or Baidynathdham Deoghar railway station) was inside the Deoghar town and the railway line could not be extended through inhabited area. Therefore, a new railway line was built from Jasidih and a new Deoghar railway station north of the Deoghar town was built.

Two lines branch out from this new Deoghar railway station. The railway line to Dumka goes east of Deoghar. The new line to Banka goes towards the north and turns east and connects with Banka railway station passing through New Nawadih, Chandan, Bhalua, Katoria, Kharjhounsa. and Kakwara railway stations. The railway line has been completed from Deoghar to Banka railway station. It will serve devotees once a direct train start running between Deoghar and Sultanganj through Bhagalpur. A daily passenger train has been started from Jasidih to Banka which runs once a day, except on Sunday w.e.f. 23 June 2016.

Dumka–Bhagalpur railway line

Dumka railway station seen from foot overbridge

Construction of a new Dumka–Bhagalpur railway line is a separate project. It connects Dumka with Bhagalpur. The new railway line takes off from Dumka towards the north and connects with Bhagalpur railway junction. The 51 km railway line from Bhagalpur to Banka and Mandar Hill already existed. The railway line extended from Mandar Hill to Hansdiha was inaugurated on 22 December 2012. The 14 km line from Dumka to Barapalasi station was commissioned in February 2014.^[3] Remaining section from Barapalasi to Hansdiha was opened for passenger trains on 28 September 2016. This Dumka – Bhagalpur railway line will serve as second alternative option for railway traffic to Howrah and Bhagalpur and will decrease distance between Bhagalpur and Howrah by nearly 70 kilometers.

This railway track to Dumka is a boon for Santhal Pargana Division.

Current services

One passenger train runs between Jasidih Junction and Dumka. One train runs from Jasidih junction to Banka via Deoghar, Chandan, Katoria from June 2016.One passenger train runs between Jasidih Junction and Barapalasi via Dumka Junction from 10 February 2014. The Passenger train service between Jasidih to Ambajora Sikaripara started on 30 June 2014 via Dumka railway station. The Passenger train service between Dumka to Rampurhat started on 4 June 2015 when a passenger train started operating from Dumka to Rampurhat. The Passenger train service between Dumka to Bhagalpur started on 28 September 2016 when a passenger train started operating from Hansdiha to Dumka.

Gallery

• 
  Dumka railway station
• 
  Dumka railway station signboard

See also

• Indian Railway
• Dumka station
• Rampurhat Junction

References