Ramgarh/Sindri: The much awaited 189km Ranchi-Koderma railway track via Barkakana will be ready for operations by December, officials said on Wednesday. Once ready, the route will lessen distance between Barkakana and Ranchi by 60km.
As part of the project, the route between Barkakana to Koderma via Hazaribag has been operational for rail movement and another 67km stretch between Barkakana junction to Ranchi is in final phases, the officials said during the launch of a retiring room and dormitory at Ramgarh Cantt railway station, part of South Eastern Railway, in presence of Hazaribag MP Jayant Sinha.
Neeraj Ambashtha, divisional rail manager (DRM) of Ranchi rail division, said, “The Barkakana-Ranchi line will pass through hills and have four tunnels. The construction of two tunnels is over and the third is near completion. The entire project is expected to be complete by December.”
Changing weather prompts migratory birds to stay put in Dhanbad Coal town plans to develop some areas as a haven of seasonal species
Many migratory birds are staying back at different sites of Dhanbad like the scenic Maithon and Panchet Lake due to the chilly weather conditions prevailing in the coal town, after a brief spell of warm weather from January 1 to 12. The weather condition is developing a favourable atmosphere for the birds to stay back.
A group of bird lovers in Dhanbad, led by a retired banker A K Sahay (62) who are carrying out extensive survey of bird spots in Dhanbad since September last year, have spotted Red Crested Pochard and Ruddy Shellduck during a visit to the Maithon Lake on Saturday.
With the sudden rise in temperature since the first week of January, the number of migratory birds has started dwindling in Coal Town.
Red Crested Pochard, a large diving duck whose favourite habitat is lowland marshes, can be seen here in large numbers. But this year, more than 90% of them have left town. Similarly, Ruddy Shelduck, a distinctive waterfowl, are also decreasing in number.
While speaking to The Telegraph Online on Monday, AK Sahay (62), a retired banker who also heads the Coal Town bird lovers association, Dhanbad Birders, said: “More than 90% of Red Crested Pochard have already left Dhanbad since the last week. While a large number of Ruddy Shelduck has also returned to their respective places.”