Rohtas: At one time, a narrow gauge railway line used to operate between Dehri-Rohtas in Rohtas district, which was known as Dehri-Rohtas Light Railway (DRLR). It was operated by the Dehri Rohtas Tramway Company, a subsidiary of Rohtas Industries. This railway line was started by the company to meet its industrial needs, along with this, passenger trains were also operated on this route. This railway ran from Dehri-on-Sone to Rohtasgarh Fort and was parallel to the Son River, where its tracks were laid along the road. It was a light railway of 2 feet 6 inches width.
In 1907, this railway was started by The Octavius Steel Company of Kolkata. The company had won the contract to build a 40 km long feeder line, extending from Rohtasgarh to Dehri-on-Sone, to reach the Delhi-Kolkata railway line. Later this tramway company was converted into a light railway company. On June 4, 1909, an agreement was signed between Octavius Steel Company and Shahabad District Board to officially lay this railway line.
Rohtas Industries later acquired this company and acquired the assets of defunct Theria Light Railway of Assam. Rohtas Industries produced industrial products such as cement, vanaspati, asbestos, paper and board, and vulcanized fiber in Dalmianagar and surrounding areas. For this, supply of raw materials and transportation of finished goods was done through this railway. Later, passenger trains also started operating on it.
Passenger services started on Dehri-Rohtas Light Railway (DRLR) in 1911. By 1913-14, more than 50 thousand passengers and more than 90 thousand tons of goods were being transported on this railway. On this line, mainly the raw materials of Rohtas Industries were transported from Kaimur Hills. In 1927, this railway line was expanded by an additional 2.5 kilometers from Rohtas to Rohtasgarh Fort, adding an additional 40 kilometres. Later, due to the expansion of Rohtas Industries, it was extended by another 25 kilometers to Tiura Pipradih, taking the total length to 67.5 kilometers.
After the Second World War and India’s independence, traffic on this railway increased, due to which new locomotives were brought to meet the needs. On 3 February 1943, Dehri-Rohtas Light Railway was registered as a public limited company, with its headquarters at Dalmianagar. During the 1950-70s, two passenger trains ran daily on this route from Dehri to Tiura Pipradih. Mainly marble and stones were transported, which were transported to the broad gauge line.
After 1970, passenger numbers on this route began to decline due to the development of better roads and the decline of Rohtas Industries. By the 1980s most of the industry had closed, and the railroad began running at a loss. Under these circumstances, this historic railway was closed forever on 16 July 1984.
Tags: Bihar News, Local18
FIRST PUBLISHED: October 8, 2024, 23:26 IST