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{{Short description|Indian railway branch line}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2025}}
{{Infobox rail line
| name = Raipur–Dhamtari Narrow Gauge line
| native_name = रायपुर-धमतरी रेलवे लाइन
| native_name_lang = hi
| status = Defunct
| locale = [[Chhattisgarh]], [[India]]
| start = [[Raipur Junction railway station|Raipur]]
| end = [[Dhamtari railway station|Dhamtari]]
| stations = [[Raipur Junction railway station|Raipur]], [[Kurud]], [[Abhanpur Junction railway station|Abhanpur]], [[Rajim railway station|Rajim]] (branch), [[Dhamtari railway station|Dhamtari]]
| open = 1900
| close = 2017 (narrow-gauge services withdrawn)
| owner = [[Bengal Nagpur Railway]] (1900–1944)<br/>[[Indian Railways]] (1944-2017)<ref name="Milestones since BNR to SER">{{Cite journal |title=Milestones since BNR to SER |url=https://ser.indianrailways.gov.in/view_section.jsp?lang=0&id=0,1,397 |journal=}}</ref>
| operator = [[Bengal Nagpur Railway]](1900–1944)<br/>[[South East Central Railway zone|South East Central Railway]] (1944-2017)
| character = Passenger and freight
| gauge = 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) narrow gauge
| map_state = collapsed
}}

'''Raipur–Dhamtari Railway line''' or '''Raipur–Dhamtari Narrow Gauge line''' was a 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) narrow-gauge branch line in [[Chhattisgarh]], [[India]]. Constructed and operated by [[Bengal Nagpur Railway]], the line opened in 1900, connecting [[Raipur]] to [[Dhamtari]] over a distance of approximately 56 km via [[Kurud]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Raipur and Dhamtari - Ian Manning on the Indian Railways: 1965-1969 {{!}} IRFCA.org |url=https://www.irfca.org/members/trips/manning/raipur.html |access-date=2025-07-21 |website=www.irfca.org}}</ref> In 1909, a further extension created the Rajim Branch—an 18‑km spur from [[Abhanpur]] to [[Rajim]]—bringing the total network length to around 74 km.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Raipur-Dhamtari Railway - FIBIwiki |url=https://wiki.fibis.org/w/Raipur-Dhamtari_Railway |access-date=2025-07-20 |website=wiki.fibis.org}}</ref> Passenger and freight services, initially steam-powered and later dieselised, served numerous small towns and villages in the region. The narrow-gauge service was discontinued in mid‑2017 to facilitate conversion to broad gauge and redevelopment work including an [[Raipur–Naya Raipur Expressway|expressway]] between [[Raipur Junction railway station|Raipur Junction]] and [[Telibandha railway station|Telibandha]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=[IRFCA] Raipur District (1909) |url=https://www.irfca.org/docs/history/raipur-district.html |access-date=2025-07-20 |website=www.irfca.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Traces of British-Era Railway unearthed in Borai Likhma village |url=https://www.thehitavada.com/Encyc/2023/5/19/Traces-of-British-Era-Railway-unearthed-in-Borai-Likhma-village.html |access-date=2025-07-20 |website=www.thehitavada.com |language=en}}</ref>

== History ==
The Raipur–Dhamtari Railway was constructed by the [[Bengal Nagpur Railway]] (BNR) and opened to traffic in 1900. It initially connected Raipur to Dhamtari via Kurud over a distance of 35 miles (56 km) on 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) narrow gauge. In 1909, the line was extended with the Rajim Branch Railway—a further 11 miles (18 km) from Abhanpur Junction to Rajim—bringing the total system length to 46 miles by 1918. In 1924–25, an interchange was provided at Kurud with the 2 ft (610 mm) narrow-gauge Raipur Forestry Tramway, operated under the [[British Raj|Forestry Department of the Central Provinces]]. Following [[Indian independence movement|Indian independence]], operations passed to [[Indian Railways]] and were later managed by the [[South East Central Railway zone]].<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Raipur and Dhamtari - Ian Manning on the Indian Railways: 1965-1969 {{!}} IRFCA.org |url=https://www.irfca.org/members/trips/manning/raipur.html |access-date=2025-07-20 |website=www.irfca.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=India |first=Map Rail |date=1 March 2015 |title=Kurud-Sihawa-Nagari Section.. A Railway That once was.. |website=[[Facebook]] |url=https://www.facebook.com/MapRailIndia/posts/kurud-sihawa-nagari-section-a-railway-that-once-wasraipur-dhamtari-rajim-rail-li/286260994831300/ }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Dhamtari Railway Station News - Railway Enquiry |url=https://indiarailinfo.com/station/news/news-dhamtari-dtr/8090 |access-date=2025-07-20 |website=indiarailinfo.com}}</ref><ref name="Milestones since BNR to SER">{{Cite journal |title=Milestones since BNR to SER |url=https://ser.indianrailways.gov.in/view_section.jsp?lang=0&id=0,1,397 |journal=}}</ref>

== Operations and Closure ==
Through much of its existence, the line carried mixed passenger and goods traffic using steam and, later, diesel traction. By mid-May 2017, all narrow-gauge services were withdrawn and the tracks were lifted; the former alignment through [[Raipur]] between [[Raipur Junction railway station|Raipur Junction]] and [[Telibandha railway station|Telibandha]] was converted into an [[Raipur–Naya Raipur Expressway|expressway]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2014-09-21 |title=The 'mobile gatekeepers' of India's railways |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-29057792 |access-date=2025-07-20 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref>

In August 2021, the [[Government of India]] approved a fresh survey for gauge conversion and potential extension of the former [[Dhamtari]]–[[Kondagaon]] narrow-gauge corridor, aiming to re-establish a broad-gauge link from [[Raipur]] towards [[Bastar district|Bastar]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=स्वर्णबेर |first=कौशल |date=2023-05-06 |title=केन्द्रीय रेलमंत्री ने अब दी सहमति: दूसरे विश्वयुद्ध के बाद बंद हुई धमतरी कोंडागांव नैरो रेललाइन का दोबारा सर्वे |url=https://www.bhaskar.com/local/chhattisgarh/raipur/news/re-survey-of-dhamtari-kondagaon-narrow-railline-closed-after-world-war-ii-131249436.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230526204503/https://www.bhaskar.com/local/chhattisgarh/raipur/news/re-survey-of-dhamtari-kondagaon-narrow-railline-closed-after-world-war-ii-131249436.html |archive-date=26 May 2023 |access-date=2025-07-20 |work=Dainik Bhaskar |language=hi |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=CG News: रायपुर से धमतरी 67 किमी नई रेल लाइन बिछाने का हुआ तेज, लोगों को घर खाली करने के निर्देश |url=https://www.patrika.com/dhamtari-news/cg-news-new-railway-line-from-raipur-to-dhamtari-has-gained-momentum-19500388 |access-date=2025-07-20 |website=Patrika News |language=hi}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-12-01 |title=Railway News: धमतरी से जुड़ जाएगा नवा रायपुर और पुराना रायपुर, 120 किमी की रफ्तार से दौड़ेगी ट्रेन, लाखों आबादी को मिलेगी राहत |url=https://www.naidunia.com/chhattisgarh/raipur-railway-news-raipur-dhamtari-railway-track-will-be-ready-by-march-2023-in-chhattisgarh-7963289 |access-date=2025-07-20 |website=Nai Dunia |language=hi}}</ref>

== Route ==
The line originated at [[Raipur Junction]] and branched southward, passing through dense urban settlements, agricultural areas, and small towns. Key stations on the main line included [[Raipur City railway station|Raipur City]], Mana, Bhatgaon, Kendri, and [[Abhanpur]] before continuing towards [[Dhamtari]]. The Raipur–Rajim branch line served the religious town of [[Rajim]]. The Raipur narrow-gauge station was located adjacent to the broad-gauge platforms but had minimal passenger amenities, often consisting of an uncovered platform and a small waiting area. At [[Abhanpur Junction railway station|Abhanpur Junction]], the line formed an interchange point for services towards Dhamtari and Rajim, with additional sidings for ballast loading and routine operational needs. Despite modest infrastructure and limited capacity, the line played an important role in connecting rural settlements to Raipur city until its closure for gauge conversion in the 2010s.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Raipur Rajim Narrow Gauge Trip - Vikas Singh - Trip Report {{!}} IRFCA.org |url=https://www.irfca.org/members/trips/vikassingh-raipur-rajim-200706.html |access-date=2025-07-20 |website=www.irfca.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Untold Story of Raipur-Dhamtari Railway Raipur-Dhamtari Railways was a narrow gauge line with a gauge of 2 feet 6 inches (762 mm), was… {{!}} Raipur, Nagpur, Bengal |url=https://in.pinterest.com/pin/the-untold-story-of-raipurdhamtari-railway-raipurdhamtari-railways-was-a-narrow-gauge-line-with-a-gauge-of-2-feet-6-inches-762-mm-was--747527238181787862/ |access-date=2025-07-20 |website=Pinterest |language=en}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Rail transport in Chhattisgarh]]
[[Category:South East Central Railway zone]]

Raipur–Dhamtari branch line - Revision history

NoemiConley374: New some article initial version