Giridih railway station

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 24.18°N 86.3°E.[3] It has an elevation of 289 metres (948 ft).

Giridih
Indian Railways station
Giridih railway station building
Location	Station Road, Giridih, Giridih district, Jharkhand India
Coordinates	24°10′56″N 86°18′49″E
Elevation	289 metres (948 ft)
Line(s)	Madhupur–Giridih
Platforms	1
Tracks	3
Construction
Parking	Available
Other information
Status	Functional
Station code	GRD[1]
Zone(s)	Eastern Railway zone
Division(s)	Asansol
History
Opened	1871
Rebuilt	2020
Electrified	2020
Passengers
6000+ daily
Location
Giridih railway station Location in Jharkhand

Madhupur–Giridih–Koderma line
km to Asansol 138 Madhupur to Jasidih 132 Sugapahari 130 Sugapahari Halt 125 Jagadishpur 121 Krishna Ballabh Sahay Halt 111 0 Maheshmunda 11 Giridih 16 CPC Siding Giridih 104 0 New Giridih Dhanbad–New Giridih line (planned) Dhirabar River 12 Koimara Barakar River 25 Fatehpur 32 Tundi 45 Maharajganj Khudia River 59 Govindpur to Asansol 70 Pradhankhanta to Dhanbad Usri River 96 0 Salaia Parasnath–New Giridih line (planned) 7 Lakhiatar Halt 14 Kumhar Tola Barakar River 24 Madhuban 31 Chainpur Halt to Koderma 38 Parasnath to Netaji SC Bose Gomoh 93 Jitpur 86 Kawar 79 Jorasankh Halt 72 Jamua 62 Duriatanr Halt 55 Rema 49 Dhanwar 41 Rakesh Bagh Halt 33 Nawadih 28 Nawal Sahi Halt 20 Maheshpur Halt 10 Koderma Town to Tilaiya (under constr.) 0 Koderma Asansol–Gaya section Koderma–Hazaribagh– Barkakana–Ranchi line km

Giridih station is the 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 14 trains daily.

History

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

There are plans from the Railway ministry to connect New Giridih with Parasnath via Madhuban, for the convenience of the Jain pilgrims visiting Shikharji.[8] The foundation for the construction of new Parasnath–New Giridih rail line was laid in 2019. The 47 km-long railway line would incur a cost of Rs 972 crore on its construction and will have two crossing stations and a couple of halts. The cost of the project would be borne by the central and the state government in 50:50 ratio and a target has been set to complete the project by 2023.

There are other proposals as well to connect New Giridih with Dhanbad Junction via Tundi and Govindpur,[9] 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

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

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

Station layout

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

Giridih terminal station handles trains five times daily except Thursdays and four times on Thursday.[10] The passenger trains are run by Eastern Railway zone. The bogies of the express trains are attached to the passenger trains for movement in the Madhupur–Giridih route. Following are the trains arriving and departing from Giridih railway station.[11][12]

Express trains

S.No.	Train no.	Train name	Source – Destination
1	13111-slip	Lal Quila Express Slip	Kolkata–Giridih
2	23111	Danapur Express	Giridih – Danapur, Patna
3	23112	Giridih Kolkata Express	Giridih–[Kolkata]
4	83112	Danapur Giridih Express	Danapur, Patna–Giridih

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

Nearest airports

The nearest airports to Giridih railway station are:

1. Birsa Munda Airport, Ranchi 155 kilometres (96 mi)
2. Gaya Airport 169 kilometres (105 mi)
3. Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Airport, Patna 223 kilometres (139 mi)
4. Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, Kolkata 309 kilometres (192 mi)

See also

• Madhupur–Giridih–Koderma line

References

1. "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. 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. Retrieved 27 March 2010.
8. "Giridih lauds Didi's budget – 'Madhuban link a blessing'". The Telegraph. Calcutta. 5 July 2009. Retrieved 31 March 2012.
9. "मोदी सरकार ने खींचा धनबाद-गिरिडीह के बीच रेल लाइन का खाका". Dainik Jagran (in Hindi). Retrieved 23 February 2019.
10. Akhtar, Shahnawaz (19 May 2008). "Coal mafia chokes trains". The Telegraph. Calcutta. Retrieved 31 March 2012.
11. "Trains to Giridih". India Rail Info. Retrieved 31 March 2012.
12. "Trains from Giridih". India Rail Info. Retrieved 31 March 2012.

External links

• Giridih railway station at the India Rail Info
• Official website of the Giridih district