Approval of Barbenda-Damrughutu doubling & Damrudhutu-Bokaro 3rd & 4th lines under SER

Kolkata: Indian Railways has approved a comprehensive set of rail infrastructure projects including Barbenda–Damrughutu Doubling and Damrughutu–Bokaro Steel City 3rd & 4th Lines at a cost of ₹815.32 crore (approx).

The New multi-tracking projects aim at eliminating congestion, enhancing line capacity, improving safety systems and enabling faster, more reliable passenger and freight movement.

Barbenda–Damrughutu Doubling & Damrughutu–Bokaro Steel City 3rd & 4th Lines:

Barbenda–Damrughutu Doubling and Damrughutu–Bokaro Steel City 3rd & 4th Lines in West Bengal and Jharkhand are major capacity expansion projects under South Eastern Railway and a cornerstone of India’s Energy, Mineral, and Cement Corridor.

Currently, the line operates at 108% utilisation, with train detention ranging between 90-150 minutes, handling 78 trains daily (38 passenger and 40 freight) and supporting a freight throughput of 35.22 MTPA. Without intervention, utilisation was projected to reach 132% by 2028–29.

Barbenda-Damrughutu-Bokaro section is situated on Kotshila-Tupkadih route. Presently, Barbenda-Damrughutu is a single line section, while from Kotshila to Bokaro Steel City is a double line section.
 
The project will strengthen connectivity to key industrial and energy hubs, including Central Coalfields, cement and steel plants, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited Depot, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited Depot, and the Bokaro Steel City industrial ecosystem.

By enhancing capacity, the expansion will directly improve energy logistics, industrial output, and the efficiency of national supply chains.