ROURKELA: The proposed railway line connecting Sardega, Pathalgaon, and Ambikapur through Sundargarh district is still awaiting the Railway ministry’s green light. Meanwhile, another project initiated around the same time has been expedited, as reported by a member of the Rail Vikash Sangram Samiti (RVSS).
Notably, the detailed project reports (DPRs) for the 218 km Sardega-Pathalgaon-Ambikapur line, which spans Odisha and Chhattisgarh, and the 291.88 km Dharamjaigarh-Pathalgaon-Lohardaga line, covering Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, were both finalized around the same period in late 2025.
According to RVSS general secretary Dhruba Kalo, the Dharamjaigarh-Pathalgaon-Lohardaga line has progressed significantly, with a gazette notification issued by the ministry on June 4, 2026. He attributed the lack of movement on the Sardega-Pathalgaon-Ambikapur project to insufficient political pressure from the Sundargarh region.
The RVSS consists of representatives from Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and Uttar Pradesh, and serves as an advocacy group aiming to enhance rail connectivity in these states.
Kalo criticized the Railway ministry’s treatment of the Sardega-Pathalgaon-Ambikapur project as “step-motherly.” He mentioned plans to consult with newly appointed member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Railways, Dilip Ray, to raise the issue with the ministry. Additionally, he intends to encourage Union Tribal Affairs minister and Sundargarh MP Jual Oram to rekindle the demand with the railway minister.
He emphasized that Chhattisgarh is on the brink of significant railway infrastructure growth, primarily due to the unwavering efforts of its Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai.
In reference to a parliamentary statement from Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on December 3, 2025, Kalo noted that 26 surveys for new rail lines totaling 3,901 km were approved under the South East Central Railway (SECR) from March 2022 to March 2025. He added that many of the surveyed lines are either sanctioned or ready for implementation.
Sources indicate that the DPR for the Sardega-Pathalgaon-Ambikapur line was completed following nearly fifty years of advocacy for the project.
This proposed line stretches approximately 78 km within Odisha, starting from Sardega in the Hemgir block and extending to Banujore in the Balishankara block of Sundargarh district. It is designed to connect previously isolated areas of Sundargarh, particularly the town serving as the district headquarters.
Additionally, plans for a 144 km new line from Ambikapur (Chhattisgarh) to Renukoot (Uttar Pradesh) are also underway. Linking the future Ambikapur-Renukoot line with the Sardega-Pathalgaon-Ambikapur line would create a direct and efficient railway route from Sardega to Delhi. Sardega is already linked to the busy Howrah-Mumbai main line via Jharsuguda station, while the proposed Ambikapur-Renukoot line is expected to connect with the Howrah-Delhi main line at Renukoot.
Sundargarh MLA Jogesh Singh stated, “The residents of Sundargarh town and nearby rural areas must travel 30 to 45 km to reach Jharsuguda station for train access. They urgently require this proposed railway line.”
