The central government has significantly accelerated the pace of multiple new railway line projects in the Ambikapur region of Chhattisgarh, marking a major push to enhance rail infrastructure in the state. This development was officially confirmed by Union Minister for Railways, Ashwini Vaishnaw, in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.
Major Projects Gain Momentum in Surguja
Responding to questions raised by Surguja MP Chintamani Maharaj, Minister Vaishnaw provided a detailed progress report on surveys and approval steps for new lines passing through Ambikapur, the divisional headquarters of Surguja. The information was relayed by a spokesperson of the South East Central Railway (SECR).
Three key projects aimed at improving connectivity to Ambikapur have shown substantial advancement. The execution of the 80-km Boridand–Ambikapur (Surajpur) doubling project has been taken up. Furthermore, Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) have been prepared for two major new lines: the 262-km Ambikapur–Ramanujganj–Barwadih route with a spur to Garhwa Road, and the 218-km Sardega–Pathalgaon–Ambikapur line.
Track Commissioning Sees Exponential Growth
The data presented reveals a dramatic increase in the pace of commissioning new railway tracks in Chhattisgarh. In the five-year period between 2009 and 2014, only 32 km of track were commissioned, averaging a mere 6.4 km per year.
This figure skyrocketed in the period from 2014 to 2025, with a total of 1,189 km commissioned, translating to an impressive average of 108.1 km per year. This represents an increase of more than fifteen times compared to the earlier period.
As of April 1, 2025, the government has sanctioned 26 railway projects in Chhattisgarh. These include six new lines and twenty doubling or multi-tracking projects, covering a total length of 1,931 km at a sanctioned cost of Rs 31,619 crore. Out of this, 1,023 km have already been commissioned and an expenditure of Rs 16,325 crore was incurred up to March 2025.
Expansive Survey Plans and Project Sanction Criteria
In a significant move, the SECR sanctioned 26 new railway line surveys in the last three financial years and the current one (2022-23 to 2025-26). These surveys cover an extensive 3,901 km and include routes passing through the Ambikapur region.
Minister Vaishnaw clarified that railway projects are sanctioned based on a comprehensive set of parameters. The key factors considered include:
- Anticipated traffic and economic viability
- First- and last-mile connectivity needs
- Bridging missing links in the network
- Capacity augmentation on congested routes
- Demands from state governments and public representatives
- Operational requirements of Indian Railways
- Socio-economic needs of the region
- Availability of funds
The acceleration of these projects underscores the government's focused strategy to boost rail connectivity in Chhattisgarh, particularly in the tribal-dominated Surguja region, which is expected to spur economic growth and improve accessibility.
