A decision on diverting the Dhanbad-Chandrapura rail line of East Central Railway near Sendra-Bansjora area of Katras, which faces subsidence threat because of raging underground fire, could not be reached at a meeting held on Friday under the chairmanship of additional coal secretary Sushil Kumar in New Delhi.

At the meeting, Dhanbad DC Anjaneyulu Dodde, chief manager (civil) of Jharia Rehabilitation Development Authority Sunil Dalela and chairman and MD of BCCL Gopal Singh apprised Railway Board members and divisional railway manager of Dhanbad Manoj Krishna Akhauri about the need to shift the line on the basis of expert reports.

The railway authorities, however, said a final decision could only be taken after a meeting of the Railway Board and another meeting between the board officials and the Prime Minister's Office (PMO). The date of both the meetings haven't been fixed yet.

More than a dozen trains, including Howrah Bhopal Express, Ajmer Calcutta Express, Guwahati Hatia Express, Darbhanga Hyderabad Express, Ranchi Howrah Intercity Express, Garib Rath Express and Ranchi Dhanbad Intercity Express, pass through the Dhanbad-Chandrapura line daily.

Incidents of fire and subsidence had taken place in the surrounding areas of the railway line on several occasions, including on April 19, 2015, November15, 2014 and October 16, 2013.

The issue of shifting of five railway lines, including Dhanbad-Chandrapura, was highlighted in a preliminary report prepared by engineering consultancy firm RITES in 2011. However, procedural delay with regard to suggestions and comments from major stakeholders such as the South Eastern Railway and East Central Railway had stalled the report, which was finally submitted in 2015.

Various agencies such as Directorate General of Mines Safety, Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research and Indian School of Mines have also emphasised on the need for the diversion of the line in their reports.