[1] This railway division was formed on 1 April 1952 and its headquarter is located at Ratlam in the state of Madhya Pradesh of India.

Metre gauge also has the longest and steepest gradients of 1:40 with reverse curve of 8.80 between Kalakund and Patalpani station of Dr. Ambedkar Nagar–Khandwa section.

The division includes the tribal districts of Jhabua and Dhar, the historical and holy cities of Ujjain and Omkareshwar.

Chittaurgarh of the Rajasthan Mewar area is one of the world famed historical cities and an important tourist place.

Ratlam division is contributing significantly in the development of social and economical conditions of the area by transporting various commodities like cement, clinker, manganese ore, sodium sulphate, caustic soda, wheat etc.

The inauguration ceremony was performed by Shri Thakatmal Jain, the then Chief Minister of Madhya Bharat State.

The alignment was to pass through Sanawad, Kheree Ghat on the Narmada and then by way of the Choral Valley up the slopes of the Vindhyas to Indore.

It also involved digging of four tunnels aggregating 510 yards in length, deep cuttings and heavy retaining walls.

Surveys between Indore and Neemuch started long back in 1871–72 when the plan and estimates for the whole project was submitted to the Government of India in 1872–73.