Kolkata, June 8: Passengers using Durgapur Railway Station in Jharkhand will soon be free from the coal dust, congested roads, and constant noise associated with loading and unloading goods.
The Eastern Railway (ER) is upgrading the New Madanpur halt into a fully developed modern block station. This upgrade will include extensive facilities for handling goods currently loaded and unloaded at Durgapur.
A senior official stated, “This initiative will not only improve logistics infrastructure and pave the way for smooth, high-capacity economic development but also address existing issues at Durgapur, which is a crucial railway station located in the headquarters of Durgapur district and the Santhal Pargana region.”
The official added, “Considering the potential increase in coal loading to six rakes per day, Eastern Railway has taken note of numerous public complaints and devised a sustainable solution. By relocating heavy coal freight operations to New Madanpur Station, situated strategically 4.20 kilometers away, daily life for station users will become significantly easier.”
He further explained, “Passengers in Durgapur will ultimately benefit from cleaner air and a healthier environment free from coal dust. Additionally, heavy trucks will bypass the city center and head directly to New Madanpur, reducing traffic congestion on local roads. Passengers will continue to enjoy uninterrupted transport services to Jasdih (JSME) and Bhagalpur.”
The new dedicated railway station at New Madanpur will also meet the immediate need for a suitable rake-loading point to accommodate the upcoming heavy extraction requirements of local captive coal blocks.
This project has been designed considering the anticipated increase in commercial coal traffic and aims to fulfill the logistical needs of two major power generation units in Uttar Pradesh that are eager to supply coal to power plants.
The initiative will support the Saharpur-Jamarpani coal block, which has a capacity of 5.38 metric tons per year and is operated by the Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Limited (UPRVUNL) for the Jawahar Power Plant in Uttar Pradesh. It will also assist the Pachwara South block in the Rajmahal coalfield, which has a capacity of 9 metric tons per year and is operated by Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC) for the Ghatampur Power Plant, a joint venture between UPRVUNL and NLC.
Shibram Manjhi, CEO of Eastern Railway, remarked, “Eastern Railway is fully committed to balancing industrial development and public welfare. Upgrading New Madanpur to a full goods warehouse station addresses two issues simultaneously. It will provide the necessary logistical support to the power sector while offering the people of Durgapur a cleaner, quieter, and hassle-free station environment.”
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