Bhubaneswar: The Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS), South Eastern Circle, Sumeet Singhal, today inspected the newly constructed Purunakatak–Charichhak section of the Khurda Road–Balangir Rail Line Project in Boudh district. The inspection covered 13.35 km of newly laid railway line and focused on various safety parameters and infrastructure facilities along the section.
The inspection is an important milestone towards commissioning of the Purunakatak–Charichhak section and further extending rail connectivity into the interior regions of Odisha.
During the inspection, the CRS reviewed the track, signalling and telecommunication systems, bridges, viaducts, tunnel and other safety related installations. He also conducted a speed trial run between Charichhak and Purunakatak stations to assess the readiness and safety of the newly constructed line.
A major engineering feature of the section is Tunnel T-7, measuring 1,975 metres in length, constructed through challenging terrain. The section also includes two major viaducts with a combined length of approximately 1.9 km. In addition, the section has one major bridge, which is a Road Over Bridge (ROB).
The newly constructed section incorporates modern railway infrastructure and safety measures, including signalling and telecommunication systems, robust track infrastructure and other prescribed safety installations to ensure safe and efficient train operations. Senior officials from East Coast Railway, including officials from the Construction Organisation, accompanied and assisted the CRS team during the detailed inspection.
The team examined the infrastructure and safety arrangements at various locations along the section.
The Khurda Road–Balangir Rail Line, spanning about 301 km, is an important railway project aimed at improving connectivity to the interior and underserved regions of Odisha. Railway infrastructure has been progressively commissioned from both the Khurda Road and Balangir ends.
The Purunakatak–Charichhak section marks another significant advancement in the ongoing project, particularly as it involves major engineering structures such as the nearly 2-km-long tunnel and major viaducts. The completion of these works reflects the sustained efforts of Indian Railways to overcome challenging geographical conditions and develop modern railway infrastructure in the region.
East Coast Railway is giving priority to the timely completion of the remaining works of the project, with continuous monitoring of construction progress, safety standards and passenger amenities. The inspection by the Commissioner of Railway Safety is a significant step in the process of ensuring that the newly constructed railway infrastructure meets the required safety standards before being opened for regular train operations.
