O’Malley described the coalfields in the upper reaches of the Damodar as follows: “Near the western boundary of Jharia field is that of Bokaro, covering 220 square miles (570 km2), with an estimated content of 1,500 million tons; close by… is the Ramgarh field 40 square miles (100 km2), in which, however, coal is believed to be of inferior quality.

A still larger field in the same district is that called Karanpura, which extends over 544 square miles (1,410 km2) and has an estimated capacity of 9,000 million tons.”[1] The Bokaro coalfield lies between 23°45' and 23°50' North latitude and 85°30' and 86°03' East longitude.

[3][4] East Bokaro Coalfield covers an area of 208 square kilometres (80 sq mi) and has total coal reserves of 4,473.66 million tonnes.

[5] Geolological reserves in East Bokaro Coalfield in million tonnes as on 1/4/2010:[6] In 1927, the Central India Coalfields Railway opened the Barkakana–Netaji S.C.Bose Gomoh line.

Later these lines were amalgamated with East Indian Railway.