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Giridih railway station

Coordinates: 24°10′56″N 86°18′49″E / 24.18222°N 86.31361°E / 24.18222; 86.31361
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Giridih
Indian Railways station
Giridih railway station building
General information
LocationStation Road, Giridih, Giridih district, Jharkhand
India
Coordinates24°10′56″N 86°18′49″E / 24.18222°N 86.31361°E / 24.18222; 86.31361
Elevation289 metres (948 ft)
Line(s)Madhupur–Giridih
Platforms1
Tracks3
Construction
ParkingAvailable
Other information
StatusFunctional
Station codeGRD[1]
Zone(s) Eastern Railway zone
Division(s) Asansol
History
Opened1871; 153 years ago (1871)
Rebuilt2020
Electrified2020
Passengers
6000+ daily
Location
Giridih railway station is located in Jharkhand
Giridih railway station
Giridih railway station
Location in Jharkhand

Giridih railway station, station code GRD,[1] is the main railway station serving the city of Giridih, the headquarters of Giridih district in the Indian state of Jharkhand. Giridih station also serves as a gateway for the Jain pilgrims visiting Parasnath.[2] Giridih is located at 24°11′N 86°18′E / 24.18°N 86.3°E / 24.18; 86.3.[3] It has an elevation of 289 metres (948 ft).

Giridih station is a terminal station located on the western end of Madhupur–Giridih line of the Asansol railway division in the Eastern Railway zone of Indian Railways.[4] The Madhupur–Giridih route is a single-line broad-gauge between the two main railway stations Giridih and Madhupur Junction. The total length of the route is 38 kilometres (24 mi). It has a single platform and handles a total of 10 trains daily.

History

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Giridih railway station was built as a railway siding in 1871 by the British government in India (prior to the India's independence in 1947) mainly for transport of mineral reserve from the region. The contract for the railway siding was awarded in 1865 and the construction was completed in 1871. In 1901 the railway siding was converted into a railway station.[5] The siding is owned by Central Coalfields.[6]

A 110 km (68 mi) track from Koderma to Maheshmunda was constructed. This extended the Madhupur–Giridih railway line to Koderma, effectively making it a Madhupur–Giridih–Koderma line. A new station was built on Maheshmunda–Koderma section named as New Giridih (NGRH) which leaves out the already existing station Giridih (GRD) on this route, also making Maheshmunda a junction station. On 16 February 2019, Eastern Railway in its press-release announced a passenger train service w.e.f. 25 February 2019 from Koderma to Madhupur via New Giridih.[7]

Further extension

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There are plans from the Railway ministry to connect Parasnath with New Giridih via Madhuban, for the convenience of the Jain pilgrims visiting Shikharji.[8] construction of which was sanctioned and the project included in the Union Budget 2018–19 at a cost of ₹902.86 Crores on a 50:50 cost sharing basis between the Government of Jharkhand and Indian Railways. The foundation stone for construction was laid in 2019. The 49-km long railway line will have two crossing stations and a couple of halts. During the financial year 2022–23, Indian Railways had allotted ₹50 Crores for the above project for early starting of the project. In a land acquisition application submitted to DLAO/Giridih by DyCE/Con/HZME office, ₹78.27 Crores were demanded for Raiyati land of 26 villages and payment for land acquisition is yet awaited for deposition of fund from Government of Jharkhand.[9]

There are other proposals as well to connect New Giridih with Dhanbad Junction via Tundi and Govindpur,[10] and with Jhajha via Bengabad, Chakai and Sono. The first phase of the Jhajha–New Giridih rail line involves 20 km-long Jhajha–Batia section, the foundation for which was laid in 2019 and which will be constructed at a cost of Rs 496 crore.

Facilities

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The major facilities available are waiting rooms, toilets, computerized reservation facility, reservation counter, and two wheeler and four wheeler vehicle parking. The vehicles are allowed to enter the station premises.

Platforms

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Currently there is a single platform apart from the railway siding that was built earlier.

Station layout

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G Street level Exit/Entrance & ticket counter
P1 Side platform, No-1 doors will open on the left
Track 1 Madhupur ← toward
Track 2 Madhupur ← toward

Trains

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Giridih terminal station handles Madhupur-bound passenger trains five times daily except Thursday and four times on Thursday.[11] The passenger trains are run by Eastern Railway zone. Following are the trains arriving and departing from Giridih railway station.[12][13]

Passenger Trains
Sl.No. TRAIN NO. TRAIN NAME
1 53511 Madhupur–Giridih Passenger
2 53512 Giridih–Madhupur Passenger
3 53513 Madhupur–Giridih Passenger
4 53514 Giridih–Madhupur Passenger
5 53515 Madhupur–Giridih Passenger
6 53516 Giridih–Madhupur Passenger
7 53517 Madhupur–Giridih Passenger
8 53518 Giridih–Madhupur Passenger
9 53519 Madhupur–Giridih Passenger
10 53520 Giridih–Madhupur Passenger

A new express train connecting New Giridih to Ranchi was announced by Koderma MP Annpurna Devi on 6 April 2023 and Indian Railways released an official notification for the same on 23 August 2023. The inaugural run of New Giridih–Ranchi Intercity Express was flagged off by Koderma MP Annpurna Devi on 12 September 2023 and regular service commenced from 13 September 2023.[14] As of now it is the only long-distance express train serving the city of Giridih connecting it with the state capital Ranchi, and also the only train running with a Vistadome coach in the state of Jharkhand.[15][16]

There has been a long-pending demand for a direct train connecting Giridih to Howrah and Patna.[17][18]

Nearest airports

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The nearest airports to Giridih railway station are:

  1. Deoghar Airport, Deoghar 71 kilometres (44 mi)
  2. Kazi Nazrul Islam Airport, Durgapur 140 kilometres (87 mi)
  3. Birsa Munda Airport, Ranchi 185 kilometres (115 mi)
  4. Gaya Airport 193 kilometres (120 mi)
  5. Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Airport, Patna 243 kilometres (151 mi)
  6. Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, Kolkata 314 kilometres (195 mi)

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Indian railway codes". Indian Railways. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
  2. ^ "Asansol Division, At a Glance". Eastern Railway. Archived from the original on 18 September 2011. Retrieved 1 April 2012.
  3. ^ "Falling Rain Genomics, Inc – Giridih". Fallingrain.com. Retrieved 1 December 2011.
  4. ^ "Giridih Tourism". Official Website of Giridih. Retrieved 7 March 2012.
  5. ^ Akhtar, Shahnawaz (20 August 2009). "Ignored, Giridih station cries for care – Pilgrim spot fetches Rs 25cr for railways, but denied express trains". The Telegraph. Calcutta. Archived from the original on 10 June 2015. Retrieved 31 March 2012.
  6. ^ "Colliery Sidings East Railway". Eastern Railway. Archived from the original on 26 May 2012. Retrieved 1 April 2012.
  7. ^ "Railways conduct trialrun on newly built track on Dhanbad Division". The Times of India. 27 March 2010. Archived from the original on 3 January 2013. Retrieved 27 March 2010.
  8. ^ "Giridih lauds Didi's budget – 'Madhuban link a blessing'". The Telegraph. Calcutta. 5 July 2009. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 31 March 2012.
  9. ^ "Jharkhand govt's fund denial halts rail movement to Jains' 'Mecca-Medina'". Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  10. ^ "मोदी सरकार ने खींचा धनबाद-गिरिडीह के बीच रेल लाइन का खाका". Dainik Jagran (in Hindi). Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  11. ^ Akhtar, Shahnawaz (19 May 2008). "Coal mafia chokes trains". The Telegraph. Calcutta. Archived from the original on 6 March 2014. Retrieved 31 March 2012.
  12. ^ "Trains to Giridih". India Rail Info. Retrieved 31 March 2012.
  13. ^ "Trains from Giridih". India Rail Info. Retrieved 31 March 2012.
  14. ^ "Ranchi-New Giridih Intercity From Sep 12". The Times of India. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  15. ^ "Jharkhand gets first intercity express with vista dome coach". The Week. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  16. ^ "Jharkhand's first Vistadome-equipped Intercity Express ready for debut ride! Know arrival, departure time and full route". Financial Express. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  17. ^ "Giridih: Got a railway station in 1871, but no superfast train even after 152 years". Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  18. ^ "Giridih's Train Service Dilemma: Why Timing Matters for Commuters and Revenue". Retrieved 19 October 2023.
[edit]
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Giridih.
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