The new station from where the Hazaribagh-Koderma train will roll out on Friday. Pictures by Vishvendu Jaipuriar
Hazaribagh, literally a town with a thousand gardens, is looking forward to its Red Letter Friday on February 20, when the first Hazaribagh-Koderma train rolls out of the new station. Yes, the town that became a cantonment in 1790, district headquarters in 1834 and municipality in 1869 is getting its railway link in 2015, almost 68 years after Independence.
Vishvendu Jaipuriar gets a feel of the last-minute excitement.
BE THERE: At the station in Kud on Friday, 3.40pm, for the inauguration of Hazaribagh station and Hazaribagh-Koderma railway line stretch
LIKELY VVIPS: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union railway minister Suresh Prabhu, chief minister Raghubar Das, minister of state for finance Jayant Sinha and former external affairs minister Yashwant Sinha
SHOWSTOPPER: When PM Modi flags off an eight-bogey diesel multiple unit (technically DMU, passenger train for laypersons) from Hazaribagh to Koderma. At a speed of 50kmph across scenic greens, it will take around 150 minutes to reach Koderma
TRAIN OR BRIDE: The DMU, which will come from Gomoh, is likely to be a stunner, decked in balloons, streamers, marigolds and roses. In fact, flowers have been ordered from Bangalore and Calcutta and expert decorators from Ranchi
BOOK YOUR RIDE: Hazaribagh-Koderma ticket costs Rs 20; counters at station and Annada Chowk open Thursday. Railway will issue IDs to all passengers
Labourers give a fresh coat of paint to Hazaribagh station on Wednesday
STATION CODE: HZME
UPGRADE: Commissioner of railway safety (eastern zone) P.K. Vajpayee has given his nod to run the train at a speed of 100kmph after the route is checked for safety. If that happens, the trip between Hazaribagh and Koderma will take only an hour
ADDITION: A railway thana will start working after the inauguration
FUTURE BIGGIE: Railway officials are working on a proposal to open a DRM office in Hazaribagh seeing this line’s strategic importance as a revenue earner in view of coal mining in nearby Barkagaon, Keredari and Chatra. Some 1,500 to 2,000 people will be posted here in that case
Sohrai paintings adorn the station walls
BUZZ NOW: Special Protection Group (SPG) has taken over the area from Tuesday. SPG personnel, led by DIG S.N. Gyang, are sanitising the station. On Wednesday, North Chotanagpur commissioner and DIG S.N. Meena and Parmeshwar Ravidas and Hazaribagh DC and DP Sunil Kumar and Akhilesh Jha were seen co-ordinating with SPG teams. Three helipads have been built near the station. DC Kumar said he had asked officials concerned to streamline traffic, including diversions and parking, for February 20
TRACK NEXT: “The Hazaribagh-Koderma link is a part of the bigger Ranchi-Hazaribagh-Koderma project. Now, as a Union minister of state for finance, I’ll put in my best efforts to complete the Hazaribagh-Ranchi link soon.” Jayant Sinha, Union minister & Hazaribagh MP
