Raoghat gets its first train as Chhattisgarh opens Tadoki-Raoghat line
Representative image: Trek_Jason / Pixabay
A passenger train reached Raoghat in Chhattisgarh's Kanker district for the first time on October 20, 2026, as the Tadoki-Raoghat and Abhanpur-Kurud rail lines opened.
What Happened
A passenger train reached Raoghat in Chhattisgarh's Kanker district on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, the first time the area has been connected by rail since Independence. Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai and Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, who joined by video conference from New Delhi, inaugurated the 17.5 km Tadoki-Raoghat line and the 22 km Abhanpur-Kurud line, and flagged off new passenger services between Raoghat and Raipur and between Raipur and Kurud. The Tadoki-Raoghat section completes the 95 km Dallirajhara-Raoghat rail project.
Key Facts
- The 17.5 km Tadoki-Raoghat section opened on October 20, 2026, completing the 95 km Dallirajhara-Raoghat project.
- The project cost an estimated Rs 1,628 crore, according to reports.
- Passenger trains were already running on the 77.5 km Dallirajhara-Tadoki section.
- New passenger services: Raoghat-Raipur and Raipur-Kurud.
- The 22 km Abhanpur-Kurud section, converted to broad gauge, also opened; work on the Kurud-Dhamtari stretch is expected to be completed soon, and the Kurud service is to be extended to Dhamtari.
- Railway projects worth about Rs 54,000 crore are under way in Chhattisgarh, the Railway Minister said.
- The ministry is looking at extending the line from Raoghat to Jagdalpur.
Why It Matters
Raoghat lies in the forested north of the Bastar region, in Kanker district, an area where travel has long depended on roads that can be slow and difficult, especially in the monsoon. A railway changes that. For residents, it means a cheaper and more reliable way to reach Raipur, the state capital, for work, hospitals, colleges and markets. For visitors, it opens a new way into a part of Chhattisgarh known for its forests and tribal culture.
The line also has an industrial purpose. The Raoghat area has iron ore deposits, and officials expect the railway to speed up the movement of ore to the Bhilai Steel Plant. Rail is usually cheaper and cleaner than trucks for moving heavy goods over long distances, and it takes heavy traffic off local roads.
The Dallirajhara-Raoghat project is part of a longer plan to link central Chhattisgarh with Jagdalpur in southern Bastar. With the Raoghat section done, the ministry is examining the extension onward to Jagdalpur, which would create a north-south rail spine through the region. That would make it easier to reach destinations in Bastar, such as the Chitrakote waterfall area, by train in future.
The Abhanpur-Kurud conversion matters too. Converting an old narrow-gauge line to broad gauge lets regular trains run directly from Raipur. Once the Kurud-Dhamtari stretch is finished, Dhamtari, a district headquarters south of Raipur, will be connected to the capital by broad-gauge rail.
| Line | Length | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Dallirajhara-Tadoki | 77.5 km | Passenger trains already running |
| Tadoki-Raoghat | 17.5 km | Opened October 20, 2026 |
| Dallirajhara-Raoghat (total) | 95 km | Completed |
| Abhanpur-Kurud | 22 km | Opened October 20, 2026 |
| Kurud-Dhamtari | Not given | Work expected to finish soon |
Impact
Short-term: People in Raoghat and nearby villages can now travel by train to Raipur. Passenger services also start on the converted Abhanpur-Kurud line.
Long-term: The line should cut the cost of moving iron ore to Bhilai, support local business and make the region easier to reach for tourists. An extension to Jagdalpur would link much of Bastar by rail.
Who is affected: Residents of Kanker district and the Raoghat area, commuters between Raipur, Abhanpur and Kurud, the Bhilai Steel Plant and mining operations, and travellers wanting to visit Bastar.
Key Takeaway
With the Tadoki-Raoghat line open from October 20, 2026, Raoghat in Kanker district has its first passenger train since Independence and a direct rail link to Raipur.
Questions and Answers
When did the train first reach Raoghat?
A passenger train reached Raoghat on October 20, 2026, when the Tadoki-Raoghat line was inaugurated by Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai and Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, who joined by video conference.
How long is the Dallirajhara-Raoghat rail line?
The full project is 95 km: the 77.5 km Dallirajhara-Tadoki section, which already had passenger trains, and the 17.5 km Tadoki-Raoghat section opened on October 20, 2026. Its estimated cost is about Rs 1,628 crore, according to reports.
Which new trains were started?
New passenger services were flagged off between Raoghat and Raipur and between Raipur and Kurud. The Kurud service is to be extended to Dhamtari once that stretch is complete.
Will the railway go further into Bastar?
The Railway Ministry is looking at extending the line from Raoghat to Jagdalpur in southern Bastar, according to reports.
Disclaimer: Prepared by the Peepals newsroom from publicly available sources with AI assistance. Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication and may change. Images may be representative. Not professional advice. Report an error via our contact page.
Sourced and fact-checked by the Peepals Global Editorial Team
Reported, fact-checked and published by the Peepals Global Editorial Team.
