Sherghati-Kajree rail link gets Railway ministry nod; ₹2,627 cr project to connect Bihar and Palamu
THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK Daltonganj, August 16: The long-pending demand for a broad gauge railway line connecting Sherghati in Bihar’s Gaya district…
Vishnu Dayal Ram
THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Daltonganj, August 16: The long-pending demand for a broad gauge railway line connecting Sherghati in Bihar’s Gaya district with Kajree in Jharkhand’s Palamu district has moved a major step forward, with the Railway Ministry issuing a sanction memorandum for the 107.89-km project.
The sanction memorandum, dated August 13, was issued by the Construction Organisation of East Central Railway. A copy of the document is available with .
₹2,627 Crore Railway Project
According to the sanction memorandum, the project has an estimated cost of ₹2,627.29 crore. Three major railway departments—Civil Engineering, Signal and Telecommunication, and Electrical—will be involved in executing the project.
The Civil Engineering department has been allocated ₹2,399.38 crore, while ₹104.05 crore has been earmarked for Signal and Telecommunication works and ₹123.86 crore for electrical works.
Palamu MP Says 40-Year-Old Demand Finally Moves Forward
Palamu BJP MP Vishnu Dayal Ram, who shared the development late on August 15, said the railway line had been a long-standing demand of the region.
“It was our long-overdue demand. It took me my first two terms in Parliament, and I received the sanction memorandum only during my ongoing third term in the Lok Sabha,” Ram said.
The MP said he had repeatedly raised the issue in Parliament, including during Zero Hour and under Rule 377.
“I have lost count of how many times I raised the issue of the broad gauge railway line between Sherghati in Gaya and Kajree in Palamu on the floor of the Lok Sabha,” he said.
Ram also thanked Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for approving the project.
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Rail Link Expected to Boost Trade and Employment
The proposed railway line is expected to improve connectivity between the two regions and provide a boost to trade, business and the local economy.
Ram described the project as “a line of hope and progress”, saying improved rail connectivity could create new avenues for employment and business opportunities.
Railway sources said the new line would reduce the travel distance between Sherghati and Kajree, near Daltonganj, by around 70 km.
Kajree railway station is located only about 7 km from Daltonganj railway station, making the proposed connectivity particularly significant for Palamu.
Project May Take Around Three Years
According to railway sources, the project could take around three years to complete, although the timeline will depend on several factors, particularly land acquisition.
Ram said land acquisition would be the first major challenge before construction can begin.
“The Railways will first have to acquire land. It is a difficult and time-consuming process,” he said.
The project is also being viewed as a significant infrastructure initiative for the region ahead of the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.
Long-Pending Demand of Palamu Region
The Sherghati-Kajree railway connection has remained pending for nearly four decades. Its sanction is therefore being seen as a significant development for Palamu and adjoining areas.
Once completed, the 107.89-km broad gauge railway line is expected to strengthen connectivity between southern Bihar and Palamu in Jharkhand while opening up new possibilities for trade, transportation, employment and regional economic activity.
