A minor soil caving incident occurred at Tunnel No. 4 of the Khordha-Balangir railway project in Odisha’s Boudh district. The tunnel, located near Adenigarh in the Harabhanga block and stretching over 4.25 kilometres, is one of India’s longest railway tunnels.
According to a clarification issued by the East Coast Railway (ECoR), the incident was triggered by loose soil formation exacerbated by continuous rainfall in the area. Despite local reports of a massive collapse forming a 30-meter-deep crater, ECoR has assured that there was no impact on manpower or machinery, and the incident will not delay the overall progress of the project.
The Khordha-Balangir railway line, a critical 301-kilometre infrastructure project aimed at enhancing connectivity between Odisha’s coastal and western regions, has been under construction for years. Tunnel No. 4, constructed using the New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM) through challenging clay-pebble strata, is a key component of this project. The tunnel’s breakthrough on April 16, 2025, was celebrated as a significant milestone.
However, Monday’s incident near Kakharufal has reignited concerns about the safety and quality of construction work, which is being carried out by GRIL, a subsidiary of Gannon Dunkerley & Company Limited.
Local reports initially suggested a catastrophic collapse, with speculation about substandard construction practices and potential casualties. However, ECoR’s statement categorically dismissed these claims, asserting that all necessary safety measures are in place and that work on the tunnel continues as planned.
The Khordha-Balangir rail line has faced significant challenges, particularly in the rugged terrain of the Eastern Ghats, where seven tunnels are being constructed. Of the project’s total length, 215 kilometres have been completed, with operational sections from Khurda Road to Daspalla and Balangir to Purnakatak. The remaining 75-kilometre stretch, including Tunnel No. 4, is critical to the project’s completion. However, ECoR maintains that the incident will not affect the timeline.
