Once Again, Umaria District Left Out of Mainstream Railway Development


By: Sadanand Joshi

Location: Umaria, Madhya Pradesh

While the Indian government’s ambitious PM Gati Shakti Yojana continues to unveil massive investments in infrastructure and transportation, regions like Umaria in Madhya Pradesh remain glaringly absent from the map of development. The recent announcement by Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw introducing several new railway projects and train services has once again sidelined Umaria and the broader Shahdol division.

The Announcements That Excluded Umaria

As part of the new initiatives, three new express trains—Rewa–Pune, Jabalpur–Raipur, and Gwalior–Bengaluru—are set to boost connectivity across central India. Additionally, four major infrastructure projects have been approved. However, all of them are focused in regions that already enjoy robust railway networks.

In stark contrast, Umaria—a tribal-dominated district and the gateway to the world-renowned Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve—has received no new railway services or infrastructure upgrades. This continued neglect stands in sharp contradiction to the government’s stated goals of inclusive development, especially for tribal and tourism-rich regions.

Lack of Train Stops and Pending Name Change

A critical issue lies in the absence of stoppages for 14 key train pairs at Umaria Railway Station. These trains connect important states like Punjab, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Gujarat, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, and Andhra Pradesh. Technically, providing stoppages here is not a challenge—the station is located on a natural rail curve where trains already reduce speed.

Adding to this is the long-pending proposal to rename the station to "Umaria–Bandhavgarh". This isn’t just a symbolic change but a strategic move to enhance tourism branding at the international level. Unfortunately, the proposal has been gathering dust in railway files for over two years with no updates or responses from the authorities.

Information Denied, Accountability Missing

Local journalists and social activists have made several efforts to obtain data under RTI and through official channels such as WhatsApp communications. The key question: How many train stoppages at Umaria have been added or removed since 2014? However, the Bilaspur Railway Division has failed to provide a clear answer. Reports indicate that while messages are seen by the DRM’s office, they are simply ignored.

Voices from the Ground

Speaking on the issue, a local activist remarked,

“This is not just about railways—it’s about the right to development, employment, tourism, and dignity. If this apathy continues, we will be left with no option but to launch a public protest.”

A Policy Oversight?

With over ₹24,000 crore sanctioned for new railway projects across the country under PM Gati Shakti, the exclusion of Umaria raises serious questions about policy priorities. The repeated sidelining of a district that holds ecological, cultural, and economic significance can only be seen as a major oversight in India’s development strategy.

Conclusion:

Umaria’s continued exclusion from railway development plans exposes a gap between vision and implementation. If the government truly wishes to bring last-mile connectivity and upliftment to tribal and backward areas, it must ensure that districts like Umaria are not left behind in the race for infrastructure and mobility.


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