The Asansol–Adra–Tatanagar–Kharagpur line is part of Howrah and eastern India's links with Mumbai and Chennai.

It is also a major freight line for transporting iron ore, coal and steel products.

[1] The Bengal Nagpur Railway was formed in 1887 for the purpose of upgrading the Nagpur Chhattisgarh Railway and then extending it via Bilaspur to Asansol, in order to develop a shorter Howrah–Mumbai route than the one via Allahabad.

This railway line is also serving the upcoming Raghunathpur industrial area, situated near Adra in Purulia district.

The new Raghunathpur Thermal Power Station (DVC) and ACC Cement Factory (Madhukunda) are a part of this.

[16] Asansol, Adra, Dhanbad, Tatanagar and Kharagpur, on this line, are the amongst the top 100 booking stations of Indian Railway.