The proposed Dalli Rajhara–Jagdalpur rail line has several objectives: to haul iron ore from the proposed Rowghat mines needed for Bhilai Steel Plant of Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) located in Bhilai city of Chhattisgarh state, provide efficient and economical means of transporting iron ore mined from NMDC's Bailadilla mines in Chhattisgarh, supporting the NMDC's upcoming Nagarnar Steel Plant near Jagdalpur for inward and outward traffic and finally to cater to the passenger and goods transport needs of those residing along and in the influence zone of the rail line till Jagdalpur, another city in Chhattisgarh state.

[3] At present, Bhilai Steel Plant is getting iron ore from Dalli Rajhara where the reserve is reported to be fast depleting.

More recently, other factors such as Nagarnar Steel Plant and NMDC's iron ore supply to Raipur and other parts of Chhattisgarh have also acted as catalysts for the project.

SAIL made its first application in 1983 for Rowghat mines and after 13 years in 1996, the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) granted in principle environmental clearance.

After the government of Chhattisgarh forwarded SAIL's proposal for forestry clearance in May 2007 to the MoEF, the ministry referred it to the empowered committee of the Supreme Court in around June 2007.

[6] A revised Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between the Ministry of Railways and Government of Chhattisgarh, SAIL, NMDC on 11.12.2007 to implement the construction of Dalli Rajhara–Rowghat–Jagdalpur (235 km) broad gauge rail link project on cost-sharing basis.

[8] The Supreme Court Committee gave its final consent for forestry clearance of Rowghat Mines during October 2008 for its F block.

In Phase 1, the line is proposed to link Dalli Rajhara to Rowghat Mines located in south about 94.66 kilometres (58.82 mi).

Union Home minister of Government of India, during February 2015, had assured that centre would provide all necessary assistance and would deploy adequate security personnel following Naxalites open threat.

[13] In February 2016, two troopers of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) were injured after an improvised explosive device (IED) planted by Maoists went off in the project area.

Notably, the passenger train from Dallirajhara to Gudma under the project was also flagged off by Railway Minister via video conferencing on the same day.

According to police, the Maoists have been opposing the project since its inception, fearing that the construction of the rail route will speed up the development work in Bastar thereby uprooting them from the region.

For the purpose of security cover to railway tracks, 2 Battalions (28th & 33rd) of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) have been deployed in the Balod and Kanker district of Chhattisgarh since May and October 2014, respectively.

The purpose of deployment is to guard and give protection for construction of Dalli Rajhara to Rowghat railway lines of 95 km.

As a part of the 235 km Dallirajhara-Rowghat-Jagdalpur railway project, Antagarh, which has a Nagar Panchayat, is now connected to state capital Raipur by a train service on 13th Aug 2022.