Bhubaneswar: The Khurda Road–Balangir New Railway Line project has achieved a historic engineering milestone with the successful breakthrough of Tunnel No. T2, located between Buguda and Daspalla in Nayagarh district.
This breakthrough, completed on May 30, 2025, marks the end of tunnel excavation work along the corridor and represents a major step forward in improving east–west rail connectivity across Odisha.
Tunnel T2 spans 1,775 metres and includes a 2-degree curve, making it the second-longest tunnel in Nayagarh district. Constructed using the New Austrian Tunneling Method (NATM)—a globally recognized modern tunneling technique—T2 demonstrates Indian Railways’ capacity to tackle complex engineering challenges in difficult terrain, including the hilly regions of the Eastern Ghats.
With the completion of T2, all seven tunnels on the 75-kilometre stretch between Daspalla and Purunakatak have now been successfully excavated. These tunnels cover a total length of 12.76 kilometres, cutting through rugged and environmentally sensitive zones across Nayagarh and Boudh districts.
In Nayagarh district, the tunnels include:
- T1: 800 metres
- T2: 1,775 metres
- T3: 2,620 metres (with a 2-degree curve)
In Boudh district, the remaining tunnels are:
- T4: 4,183 metres + a 700-metre escape tunnel
- T5: 317 metres
- T6: 290.75 metres
- T7: 1,975 metres
The construction process faced numerous challenges, including highly variable geological strata, curved tunnel alignments requiring precision engineering, and simultaneous tunneling from both ends to maintain project timelines. Many of the tunnel sections also lie near eco-sensitive and wildlife zones, necessitating strict environmental safeguards such as noise and vibration control.
Despite these hurdles, the project has progressed steadily. The Khurda Road–Balangir Rail Line is a 301-kilometre railway corridor being developed in phases. So far, the segments from Khurda Road to Daspalla (106 km) and from Balangir to Purunakatak (120 km) have already been commissioned. The final stretch of 75 km from Purunakatak to Adhenigarh—which includes the tunnel section—is currently under advanced stages of construction.
Once the entire line is operational, it will provide seamless rail connectivity between the eastern and western parts of Odisha. The new line is expected to reduce travel time, improve access to services in remote areas, boost freight transport, and stimulate economic development across central Odisha.
The Khurda–Balangir Rail Project is one of Indian Railways’ flagship initiatives aimed at bridging long-pending connectivity gaps in Odisha. With all tunnel excavations now completed, the project moves one step closer to transforming regional transportation and unlocking the state’s full economic potential.
