Bhubaneswar: Indian Railways’ much-awaited Khurda Road–Balangir Rail Line project will build a new rail link between western and coastal Odisha, connecting six districts in its route – Balangir, Sonepur, Phulbani, Boudh, Nayagarh, and Khurda.
The total budget of the project is Rs 3799 crore and is expected to be completed by 2026.
Rail connectivity from Khurda Road Junction Railway station on the East Coast Railway with Balangir Railway Station on the Sambalpur-Titlagarh Branch Line was required to boost the economic development of this interior underdeveloped deprived district of Odisha.
Accordingly, the Khurda Road-Balangir New B.G. Line was sanctioned in the year 1994-95 at a total abstract cost of Rs 355.38 Crores. After the sanction of the project, a final location survey was undertaken by RITES in the year 1994-95.
Since the line was very long, it was decided to take up the work in phases. Accordingly, a detailed estimate for Phase-I i.e. Km.0-36 was sanctioned at a total cost of Rs.109.23 Crores.
Later on, a detailed estimate for Phase II of this project for Km.36-112 was sanctioned at a total cost of Rs.360.98 Crores, further revised to Rs.1147.74 Crores. For the construction of the Khurda-Balangir section of the project (Km.112-289), govt. of Odisha has agreed to provide land free of cost and share fifty per cent cost of construction.
In this connection, an MOU has been signed between Govt. of Odisha and the Ministry of Railway, outlining the details of the participative funding pattern etc. and a timeline of six years has been fixed for completing the project.
While the construction activities are in progress between Ex-Sonepur up to Jharmunda (Km.28.765 )from BLGR Road end to progressively commission up to Purunakatak, construction activities fists Balangir End have been taken up to expedite the completion of the project by progressively commissioning sections from both ends. Detailed estimates for Purunakatak-Balangir (Km.112-289) have been sanctioned in two parts for Rs.2452.92 Cr.
Out of the total length of 301 Km of this project, altogether, 152.805 km of rail line work has been commissioned. The Railways has been constructing this line from both sides, i.e., from Khurda Road and Balangir for early completion of the project. 105.8 Km from Khurda Road to Daspalla and 47 Km from Balangir to Sonepur have already been completed. About 73 km from Sonepur to Purunakatak is expected to be completed within a couple of months.
It has also been targeted to complete the rest of the stretch, i.e., from Daspalla to Purunakatak, a stretch of 75 km is expected to be completed by Dec’2026.
Accordingly, the Railways have planned 7 tunnels in the route. In Boudh District, four tunnels are being constructed while Tunnel 5 has been completed and finishing work will be done. Also, construction of Tunnels 4, 6 & 7 is underway.
The Khurda Road – Balangir New Rail Line Project is a bold and ambitious initiative led by the East Coast Railway (ECoR), to enhance connectivity and upgrade transportation infrastructure in Odisha.
At the heart of this grand project lies the construction of a series of tunnels – T4, T5, T6, and T7 – stretching an impressive 7.492 kilometres falling in the Adenigarh-Purunakatak section.
Constructing tunnels of this magnitude is no small feat, demanding meticulous planning, innovative equipment, and a highly skilled workforce. GR INFRA PROJECTS LTD. has been entrusted through an EPC Contract to meet this challenge head-on by employing top-of-the-line tunnelling equipment in the industry.
Commitment to excellence shines through in the meticulous preparation of detailed designs, drawings, estimates, and execution schedules. The key features of the tunnel work. The combined length of tunnels T4, T5, T6, and T7 is a staggering 7.492 kilometres, including an escape tunnel spanning 700 meters.
Here’s a closer look at each tunnel:-.
- Tunnel T4: This engineering marvel stretches from Km 156+231.5 to Km 160.415, boasting an extraordinary length of 4185 meters, there’s also a 700-meter escape tunnel ensuring safety.
- Tunnel T5: Tunnel T5 covers a distance from Km 164+464 to Km 164+780.68, spanning 317 meters.
- Tunnel T6: With a length of 315 meters, Tunnel T6 extends from Km 165+000.6 to Km 165+279.8.
- Tunnel T7: With a length of 1975 meters, Tunnel T7 extends from Km 168+528.1 to Km 170+501.7.
Rail Bridge Over Tel River
The most important aspect of the project is the Rail Bridge on River Tel connecting the Sonepur and Boudh Districts. Making this important bridge is a challenge as there is a backwater in the river.
This river connects with Mahanadi after 1&1/2 km and when the Mahanadi water level grows, the water at Tel Bridge flows reverse.
Viaduct to protect forest, wildlife movement
Railways are constructing a viaduct in a forest area between Banigochha and Adhenigarh. This will be economical and reduce construction costs.
Less land will be required without affecting jungle land and wildlife movements thus protecting natural resources.
Alignment
The proposed alignment runs from east to west entirely within the southern watershed area of river Mahanadi. The terrain from Sonepur(KM240.815 F/KUR)- Purunakatak (KM 180.750F/KUR) is generally flat and gently rising.
From km-65.5 to Daspalla(Km-106), the rise is steeper with isolated hillocks and it enters the reserve forest from km-78.5. From Km-106 to Km-186, the alignment passes through Eastern Ghat hill ranges and deep reserve forest.
Beyond km-186, the hill recedes and alignment generally passes through plains and undulated cultivated areas with isolated bushy jungle patches.
The purpose of the line is to provide the basic infrastructure support for industrial development, having a large socio-economic impact on the area.
With the recent planned opening of the Ex-Sonepur-Jharmunda section, (Length Km: 28.765) the section between Khurda(455.340KmF/HWH)-Balangir(300.838Krn) will be operational at 182.555 Km out of 301 Km of Khurda Road-Balangir Rail Line Project. (From Balangir-End).
The sanctioned cost of all the parts and detailed estimate of the entire project stands at Rs 3799 Cr. Phase-I i.e. Khurda Road-Begunia section (32.000Km) is the starting portion of the Khurda Road-Balangir B.G. Rail Line Project (Length 301Km.) taking off from Khurda Road Station (Km:455.340 F/HWH) of Howrah-Madras Line, Khurda Road Division, E.Co.Railway, Khurda Dist. Of Odisha State and the same was commissioned on 16.07.2015 for passenger traffic.
The next block section Begunia -Rajsunakhala was commissioned on 20.03.2017. The block section Rajsunakhala – Bolagarh Road was commissioned on 19.06.2017. The block sections between Nayagarhtown – MahipurdiMahipur- Nuagaon were commissioned on 26.12.2019 and 30.06.2022. The block section between Bichhupali-Balangir was commissioned on 15.01.2019, Jhartarbha-Bichhupali section was commissioned on 10.11.2022. Khambeswarpalli-Jhartarbha was commissioned on 12.07.2023. And, Sonepur-Khambeswarpalli was commissioned on 29.12.2023.
