Bokaro: More than four decades after it was opened to serve freight needs of Bokaro Steel Plant (BSL), Ispat Nagar railway station is finally set to get its first scheduled passenger train halt — a move expected to transform daily travel for students, workers, traders and office-goers across Chas, Chandankiyari and nearby areas.The Railway Board has approved a new passenger service between Bhojudih and Bokaro Steel City, senior divisional commercial manager, Adra division, Vikas Kumar confirmed. The passenger train (58035/58036) will run five days a week, except Sundays and Thursdays, halting at Bhojudih, Shevbabudih, Talgaria, Bandhdih, Chas and Ispat Nagar before terminating at Bokaro Steel City.For thousands who now depend on buses and shared vehicles, the service promises a cheaper and faster commute. The 40-45 km journey between Bhojudih and Bokaro currently takes close to five hours by road and costs around Rs 200. The new train is expected to cut travel time to just over an hour, with fares likely to be only Rs 15-20.“We have had railway tracks for years, but no passenger trains. Many people were forced to depend on buses and other road transport, which was expensive and time-consuming. This decision will be a big relief for common passengers,” said Santosh Mahto, a Telgadia resident.For students, the announcement has come as a major relief. Ritika Kumari of Bhojudih, who is seeking admission to college this year, said, “Many students travel to Bokaro for education. Spending hundreds of rupees every month on transport was difficult. A train fare of just Rs 15-20 will make a huge difference.”Daily wage earners and contract workers employed in BSL and industrial units in BIADA also expect the service to bring predictability to their commute. “A fixed train schedule will help us reach our workplaces on time and avoid the uncertainty of road journeys,” said Avni Gorai, a resident of Mohal near Bhojudih.South Eastern Railway officials said the service will have eight ICF coaches, including six general and two SLR coaches. Train No. 58035 will leave Bhojudih at 8:15 am and reach Bokaro Steel City at 9:30 am. The return train, 58036, will depart Bokaro Steel City at 6:15 pm and reach Bhojudih at 7:30 pm.Opened in 1982, Ispat Nagar station has two platforms and passenger-handling infrastructure but never had a scheduled halt. Former Chandankiyari MLA Amar Kumar Bauri welcomed the approval and thanked the Union railway ministry, calling it the fulfilment of a long-pending public demand.
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