Jagdalpur. The Jagdalpur-Raoghat project, a 140-kilometer-long railway line connecting the tribal areas of Bastar directly to Raipur, is now ready to be operational. The company has also begun demarcation work. The most promising aspect of this entire process is that this time, work has begun from the Bastar side. Work has gained momentum in areas like Palli, Kudkanar, Karakapal, and Balenga. Demarcation marks can be seen everywhere in this area. This has not only brought joy to the people of Bastar, but also increased hopes for its early completion.
According to reports, after receiving approval for ₹3,513 crore from the Railway Board in May 2025, site demarcation work has begun rapidly, which will not only open the door to mineral transportation but will also set a new chapter in regional development. The two authorized companies demarcating the forest areas are aiming to complete the work by March 2026, so that construction can begin before the monsoon. But this start also mirrors past delays, when the project was stalled by the failure of a company like BRPL. Now, gaining new momentum under a joint central-state committee, Bastar is on the verge of being connected to the rail network, with the 2026 goal of liberation from Maoist violence.

Bastar MP Mahesh Kashyap said that a month ago, he held a meeting with railway officials, where he reported on the progress of demarcation of the railway line and forest land, and promised to send a proposal for forest clearance to the central government soon. He stated that the railway line from Bastar to Raipur will be completed by 2029-30.

Raipur Railway Division Senior DCM Awadhesh Kumar Trivedi said that site demarcation and forest survey work for the Raoghat-Jagdalpur railway line is progressing rapidly. Construction will begin simultaneously at two or three locations by the middle of next year to ensure deadlines are met.