28 Sept 2016: Railway minister Suresh Prabhu flagged off the train service along Bhagalpur (Bihar) - Dumka route".
A part of the 120 km stretch between Bhagalpur and Dumka, Bhagalpur-Mandarhil section, was operational for long and the project for the rest of the 64km stretch between Mandarhil and Dumka was introduced in 1999 during the A B Vajpayee government followed by its extension up to Rampurhat the same year.
Union minister Shahnawaz Hussain, MPs Nishikant Dubey and Manoj Tiwari, state minister Louis Marandi were present at the Hasdiha railway station to witness the online ceremony.
A single passenger train will ferry passengers from both sides between Bhagalur and Dumka with the fare being Rs 30 against Rs100 that passengers were charged while travelling in private buses.This apart, the train service along Dumka-Bhagalpur route is believed to be economically viable for the local development and create employment among locals.