Bhubaneswar: Taking into account the need for direct rail connectivity between Badampahar and Tatanagar in the morning hours, the South Eastern Railway (SER) will run an additional train in the Tata-Badampahar section. The new train has been planned despite serious infrastructural constraints, especially signaling, in this section.
The new DEMU passenger will start from Badampahar at 7.25 am and reach Tatanagar at 10.45 am covering a distance of 89 km. This apart, another train will run early in the morning from Tatanagar and reach Badampahar around 7 am.
The economy of Badampahar area in Mayurbhanj district of Odisha is mainly dependent on the rich and extensive iron ore mines and forest produces. Although mining started in the area nearly 100 years ago, the region has largely remained backward and neglected owing to lack of proper rail connectivity.
The first railway line in this area connecting Kalimati , erstwhile Tatanagar station, to the mines in Gorumahisani was commissioned in 1911. Later, another branch line was constructed bringing Badampahar into the railway map in 1922. Freight trains have been running since the beginning carrying iron ore from the mines to the steel plant at Tatanagar, but only one train ran between Tatanagar and Badampahar till now.
The sole passenger train running between these two stations at present leaves Tatanagar at 6 am and reaches Badampahar at 10.25 am. In the return direction, the train starts from Badampahar at 10.40 am and arrives at Tatanagar at 15.05 am. In both the directions the trains cover the branch line passing through Gorumahisani.
For long, people in the region have been demanding another train between Badampahar and Tatanagar section.
The train would be beneficial as the people of Badampahar would now get a direct train to Tatanagar on the Howrah-Mumbai trunk route. Passengers wishing long-distance travel can now get down at Tatanager and board trains for Mumbai or Howrah.
The Railways also plan to develop modern signaling system in the section which will help increase the line capacity and also explore the possibility of better terminal berthing facilities at Badampahar. Realising the need for development of this area, the electrification of the Tatanagar–Badampahar line was proposed and sanctioned in the current year (2018-19). After completion of electrification, electric trains would start running in this section.
The introduction of a new pair of passenger train services and the above measures will benefit the people of this area and bring in better employment opportunities.