Patna: Operations of coal-laden BOBR wagons have begun on the Gurpa-Gajhandi Ghat section of East Central Railway after the height of three tunnels was increased to accommodate modern freight wagons.
The nearly 120-year-old railway section previously could not handle BOBR wagons because of restrictions caused by the tunnels. East Central Railway completed the redesign and structural modifications in June 2026 following work that began in January.
BOBR Wagon Operations Begin After Trials
The railway conducted trials with empty and loaded BOBR rakes on both the Up and Down lines after completing the tunnel modifications.
Following successful trials, regular coal freight operations have now started on the route.
Dhanbad-Barh Route To Be Shorter
The new route is expected to reduce the round-trip distance between Dhanbad and the NTPC plant at Barh by about 250 km.
Railway authorities estimate that freight trains will save around five hours of travel time, enabling faster movement of coal to power plants.
Direct Route For NTPC Coal Supply
The upgraded section will provide a more direct route for transporting coal from the Dhanbad Division to NTPC plants at Barh, Barauni and Salakati.
Earlier, BOBR rakes carrying coal from the Dhanbad Division had to travel through the Pradhankhanta-Asansol-Jhajha route.
Rake Turnaround Time Expected To Improve
Empty BOBR rakes will now be able to return to the Dhanbad Division through the same route after unloading their coal.
This is expected to reduce rake turnaround time and improve the availability of wagons for further coal transportation. The ability to load more coal within the Dhanbad Division is also expected to increase freight capacity.
IIT-ISM Dhanbad Provided Technical Support
The tunnel redesign and structural modification work was prioritised at the initiative of East Central Railway General Manager Chhatrasal Singh.
The railway completed the project with technical assistance from IIT-ISM Dhanbad.
The introduction of modern freight wagon operations on the historic section is expected to improve the efficiency and capacity of coal transportation.
Part Of The Historic Grand Chord Route
The Grand Chord railway line was established in 1906-07 during the tenure of Lord Minto. The Gurpa-Gajhandi Ghat section forms part of this historic route.
With the removal of tunnel height restrictions, the section can now support modern BOBR wagon operations, strengthening the rail network used for coal movement to NTPC power plants.
