Novel rail runs through it: Bastar chugs closer to getting new line of connectivity
Raipur: In a step aiming for more development and connectivity in Bastar, the final location survey (FLS) of a proposed 160.33-kilometre-long railway line from Kothagudem in Telangana to Kirandul in Chhattisgarh has entered its concluding phase, following the Union govt's recent approval.
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A major portion of the railway line, approximately 138.51 kilometres, will pass through the Naxal-affected districts of Sukma, Dantewada, and Bijapur in southern Chhattisgarh, and they are areas that have remained disconnected from the national railway grid for decades.
The new railway corridor is poised not only to simplify transportation but also to bring about transformative socio-economic development in the region, a state govt officer said.
The
is conducting the survey using advanced LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) technology, which offers precision mapping of the terrain.
The project is being closely monitored by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt of India, considering its strategic importance for both internal security and regional development.
Chhattisgarh has extended active support and coordination, that played a key role in accelerating the survey work.
"This is not just a railway project, it is the laying of tracks for hope, development, and trust within Bastar. The Kothagudem–Kirandul rail line will open doors to socio-economic transformation for Sukma, Dantewada, and Bijapur, where rail connectivity has been a long-cherished dream," said chief minister Vishnu Deo Sai on the project.
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