JHANSI, July 19 -- The Barua Sagar railway station in the Jhansi district has established itself as a key freight hub for the North Central Railway (NCR) following the launch of its inaugural iron ore rail transportation project. The first rake, loaded with iron ore destined for a JSW Steel plant in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, is set to depart, signaling a significant expansion of NCR's freight capabilities. According to Neeraj Bhatnagar, senior divisional commercial manager (freight), this long-term transportation agreement is projected to generate approximately Rs 100 crore in annual revenue for the Railways. Over its 35-year tenure, the project is expected to contribute a cumulative Rs 3,500 crore to the exchequer. Under the contract, the station will handle 10 to 12 freight rakes per month. Each train will transport roughly 4,000 tonnes of iron ore over a distance of 1,716 kilometers. The mineral is being sourced from Nauguan village in Madhya Pradesh, situated approximately 12 kilometers from Barua Sagar. The shift from road to rail is expected to reduce logistics costs, ease highway congestion, and provide a safer mode of cargo transport. "The business development initiatives of the North Central Railway have been instrumental in securing this contract, which will support industrial expansion and economic development across the Bundelkhand region for the next 35 years," Bhatnagar stated. Beyond revenue, the project is anticipated to create indirect employment opportunities and bolster supply-chain connectivity. Railway authorities are actively pursuing similar industry partnerships to promote rail transport for bulk commodities, positioning Barua Sagar as a pivotal centre for freight-loading in central India....