Jharkhand, a state in eastern India, has a well-developed railway network that connects it to major cities across the country. One of its railway stations stands out as the largest, handling a huge number of passengers and goods every day. This station plays a key role in transportation, especially for coal and other essential goods, making it an important part of India’s railway system.
An Overview of Jharkhand
Jharkhand is a state in eastern India, known as the “land of forests.” It shares borders with West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Odisha. Ranchi is the capital, and Dumka is the sub-capital. The state is famous for waterfalls, hills and religious sites like Baidyanath Dham and Parasnath. It is mostly rural, with only 24% of people living in cities. Hindi is the official language.
Largest Railway Station of Jharkhand
The largest railway station in Jharkhand is Dhanbad Junction, which serves the city of Dhanbad. This station is one of the busiest in India, handling over 100 trains and more than 1 lakh passengers every day. It is also one of the Top 100 booking stations in Indian Railways.
Location and Importance of Dhanbad Junction
Dhanbad Junction is located in Dhanbad city, which is the headquarters of Dhanbad district. The city is also known as the Coal Capital of India because of its many coal mines. The station plays a major role in transporting coal, goods and passengers. It is also the headquarters of the Dhanbad Rail Division under the East Central Railway Zone.
History of Dhanbad Junction
Dhanbad Junction has a long history in Indian railways. The East Indian Railway Company extended its rail lines to Katrasgarh via Dhanbad in 1984. Later, the railway network was expanded for better coal transportation. In 1903, the Dhanbad-Pathardin section was also opened.
Facilities at Dhanbad Junction
Dhanbad Junction provides many facilities to passengers, including:
- Waiting rooms
- Computerized ticket booking system
- Dormitory and retiring rooms
- Cafeteria and food plaza
- Bookshop and newspaper stalls
- Lifts and escalators for easy movement
- Free RailWire WiFi since November 21, 2016.