It was possible to develop mining in the Jharia Coalfield in the late nineteenth century primarily because of the introduction of railways.
East Indian Railway Company extended the
Grand Chord to Katrasgarh via
Dhanbad in 1894.[3]
The District Gazetteer of
Manbhum noted that: "There is a network of railway line in this district passing through colliery area. Grand Chord Line of the Eastern Railway and branch line of South Eastern Railway pass through this district from Gomoh Junction two railway line one of the Eastern Railway and another of the south Eastern Railway branch off, one going to Dehri on Sone (Shahabad) via Barkakana and another from Gomoh to Adra (Purulia district). There are branch lines in both the railway for carrying coal to different places in the country."[5]
EIR had four major sections:
KumardhubiâGomoh section
PradhankhantaâPathardih section (15 km), opened in 1913
DhanbadâPhularitand section (21.6 km), opened in 1894 to Katrasgarh and extended to Phularitand in 1924
Electrification of the stretch of mainline of this section from
Asansol to
Netaji SC Bose Gomoh was completed in 1960â61.[6]
Stretches of railway track in the Jharia Coalfield were electrified from time to time. DhanbadâKusundaâTetulmari was electrified in 1961-62. The SantaldihâPathardihâSudamdihâJamadoba sector was electrified in 1965-66. The BhojudihâNetaji SC Bose Gomoh stretch was electrified in 1985â86. The Netaji SC Bose GomohâChandrapuraâBhandaridahâRajabera sector was electrified in 1986â87. The ChandrapuraâJamuniatanrâMahuda sector was electrified in 1986â87. The TupkadihâTalgoria sector was electrified in 1987â88.[6]