Raipur, Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Dev Sai inaugurated the new rail service in Rajim today. Increasing the commuting सुविधा of the people of the area, he flagged off the new MEMU train service from Rajim to Raipur. On this occasion, he also started the Rajim-Raipur-Rajim MEMU new train service and the extension of Raipur-Abhanpur 2 MEMU rail service to Rajim. A large number of passengers boarded the train on this occasion and enthusiastically left for Raipur. There was an atmosphere of joy and excitement in the entire area due to the availability of cheap and accessible new rail सुविधा.
Chief Minister Shri Sai said that with this new rail service, people of Gariaband and Devbhog areas including Rajim will also get the option of cheap and affordable travel to the capital Raipur. This train will prove to be very useful for everyone including students, working class and business class. He said that Prayag of Chhattisgarh, Rajim has now been connected to the rail network. Commuting from rural areas to the capital Raipur has now become easier, more convenient and affordable.
Chief Minister Shri Sai said that in our Chhattisgarh, the pace of development is continuously progressing for the last 19 months with the blessings of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji. The Chief Minister said that the rapid investment in railway infrastructure will create a new future for future generations. He said that about eight years ago, a narrow gauge train used to run from Dhamtari to Raipur and now, after a gap of eight years, the broad gauge train facility has become available here. For this, he expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji on behalf of the people of entire Chhattisgarh.
Chief Minister Shri Sai said that currently, railway projects worth about Rs 45,000 crore are being operated in Chhattisgarh. A provision of about Rs 7,000 crore has been made in the budget of the financial year 2025-26, which is ensuring rapid expansion and development of rail services in the state.
On this occasion, Forest Minister Shri Kedar Kashyap, Food Minister Shri Dayaldas Baghel, Lok Sabha MP Raipur Shri Brijmohan Agarwal, Mahasamund MP Smt. Rupkumari Chaudhary, Abhanpur MLA Shri Indrakumar Sahu, Rajim MLA Shri Rohit Sahu, President of Chhattisgarh State Warehousing Corporation Shri Chandulal Sahu, President of Municipal Council Gobra Nawapara Smt. Omkumari Sanjay Sahu, President of Nagar Panchayat Rajim Shri Mahesh Yadav, along with local public representatives, General Manager of South East Central Railway Shri Tarun Prakash, railway officers-employees and a large number of citizens were present.
Forest Minister and in-charge Minister of Raipur district Shri Kedar Kashyap said that with this new service, direct rail access to Prayag Rajim of Chhattisgarh has been ensured, which will also promote tourism. He said that on May 22, 103 railway stations in the country were selected to be modified under the name ‘Nirmal Bharat Railway Station’, out of which five railway stations of Chhattisgarh are included and 32 stations have also been added to this scheme. For this, he expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji and appreciated the efforts of Chief Minister Shri Sai. He said that railway projects worth about Rs 45,000 crore are underway in the state, which will accelerate rail connectivity. Bastar is also benefiting from this and the work of the 140-kilometer-long railway line under the Rawghat project is in progress.
Raipur Lok Sabha MP Shri Brijmohan Agarwal said that a large number of saints and tourists come from outside to Prayagraj Rajim of Chhattisgarh. Now they will get the facility to come directly from Raipur to Rajim, which will give a new direction to tourism and regional development and the name of Rajim will be further illuminated on the world stage.
Mahasamund MP Smt. Rupkumari Chaudhary, while congratulating the people for the new rail service, said that now it has become very easy to come to Raipur from Rajim. Pilgrims and tourist passengers will now be able to travel directly from Rajim to Dongargarh.
According to the information received from the Raipur Rail Division of South East Central Railway, the operation of the Raipur-Abhanpur-Raipur MEMU passenger train will now be extended to Rajim. From September 19, 2025, as per the regular schedule, train number 68766/68767 Rajim-Abhanpur-Raipur MEMU passenger will operate daily from both ends—Rajim and Raipur. This train will have a total of 08 coaches including 06 general class compartments and 02 power cars.