Historic trace of a railway line operated by the British colonial rulers has come to light in Borai Likhma village, near Kondagaon. The railway line, which once connected Likhma to Raipur, spanned a distance of 70 kilometers. Even today, remnants of this railway connection can be observed in the village, offering a fascinating glimpse into the region’s past. Local residents Sadhuram (82) and Punaram Samrath (70) revealed that during the British colonial period, wooden balls crafted from sal wood were transported from Borai Likhma to Raipur to be used in laying railway tracks. The tracks stretched from Raipur to various destinations including Dhamtari, Achhota, Dugli, Kerigaon, Nagri, Maude, Sakra, Gehna Biyar, and ultimately reached Likhma.

Regrettably, as time passed, the tracks were uprooted by the local populace, and the path is now occupied by a dirt road. Nevertheless, echoes of history can still be found along this route, with wells and coal mounds serving as enduring relics. In earlier times, the ancestors of the local residents earned wages ranging from 15 to 20 paise per day for their laborious tasks of loading wooden balls onto the trains, supplying water from the wells, and loading coal onto the trains.

In recent years, a survey was conducted to connect Rawghat to Jagdalpur, passing through Narayanpur, Orchha, Kibaibalenga, Benur, Kondagaon, Kopabeda, Dahikonga, and Bhanpuri. Land acquisition has been successfully completed in Kondagaon for this purpose, and compensation has been provided to those affected by the project. Exciting news arrived as Railway Minister Ashwani Vaishnav recently granted permission to extend the broad gauge line that previously ran from Raipur to Likhma, via Dhamtari, Kurud, Megha Dugli, Pendra, Sakra, Nagari, Farida, and Borai, all the way to Kondagaon.

The railway line has already been laid from Rawghat to Antagarh, and a survey has been conducted to connect it further to Jagdalpur via Narayanpur, Kokodi, Kondagaon, and Dahikanga. With the latest permission granted, the rail network will now connect Kondagaon to Raipur, passing through Borai Likhma and Makdi in Kondagaon. This ambitious extension has the potential to bring tremendous growth to Kondagaon, elevating it to the status of a prominent city. Providing an update on the proposed construction work, Charlie Thakur, Sub-Divisional Officer Revenue - Rawghat, revealed that around 15 villagers in Kondagaon district might be affected by the project. Thus far, a total of 63.24 hectares of land has been acquired for the railway project, and compensation amounting to Rs 16,07,86,124 has been disbursed to 319 villagers. However, there are still nine people awaiting the settlement of their pending payments. The unearthing of this British-era railway line in Borai Likhma village not only sheds light on the region's historical significance but also paves the way for a new era of connectivity and development. As plans for the railway extension materialize, Kondagaon and its residents eagerly anticipate the transformation that awaits them, as their town evolves into a key hub of progress and prosperity