Ranchi Plateau Railway Survey

The Ranchi Plateau Railway Survey was undertaken in the period 1894-98 and reported:-  :-

Survey A. ‘Chatrand to proposed Palamow-Sini Line’

“A survey for a standard gauge (Note 1) line from Chatatand on the Adra-Jherriah alignment (Note 2) referred to in the ’Midnapore-Jherriah Coalfield Railway Survey’ [See separate page] to some point on the proposed Palamow-Sini line (Note 3), a length of 115 mile” (Note 4)

Survey B. ‘Tori to Aringi via Lohardugga NG Line with Ranchi NG Branch’

“A reconnaissance for a 2-foot gauge (Note 5) from Tori to Aringi via Lohardugga (Note 6), with a branch to Ranchi, 80 miles”(Note 7)

with the statement that:-

“ These surveys are both in hand and these railways, if constructed, will form protective lines for the Ranchi Plateau in time of famine.”

Notes and Interpretations

Survey A

• ‘Standard Gauge’ in this context is the 5foot 6 inch/ 1676mm Indian Broad Gauge
• ‘From Chatatand on the Adra-Jherriah alignment’ .
  • 'Chatatand' has not located but must be between Adraand Jerriah/Jharia on the ‘Jhariah Extension BNR Line' - see separate page that had opened in 1891.
• ‘To some point on the proposed Palamow-Sini Line’.
  • 'Palamow' not located
  • Sini became a major junction on the BNR network.
• It has not been possible to identify the proposed line of this route with a length of ‘115 miles’.

Survey B

• ‘2-foot Gauge’ is the 2ft/610mm Narrow Gauge
• It has not been possible to identify the locations of Tori, Aringi or Lohardugga
• It appears that this alignment was not adopted, however some years later a direct 2-foot gauge line constructed from Purulia to Ranchi
  • The Purulia Ranchi Light Railway was 73 miles(117 km), opened in 1907, and extended to Lohardaga in 1913 a further 42 miles(67km). ( See - see separate page

Further Information

See separate page Jharia Coalfield Railways

Associated Information

See also Midnapore-Jherriah Coalfield Railway Survey as this is included in the same 1894-98 Report