Bhubaneswar: Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS), South Eastern Circle, Kolkata, Suvomoy Mitra inspected two vital projects in Khurda Road Division of East Coast Railway that includes 13.050 Kms long rail line between Mahipur & Nuagaon Station of ongoing Khurda Road-Balangir Rail Line project on Wednesday.
Mitra inspected 3.099 Kms long bypass rail line between Haripur Gram & Argul Stations bypassing Khurda Road Station on Thursday. The construction of these much awaited important project has been completed and will be commissioned after clearance from Commissioner of Railway Safety. Movement of Train services will be allowed just after getting clearance from CRS for train traffic, the East Coast Railway (ECoR) stated.
Commissioner of Railway Safety inspected all the safety related works thoroughly between Mahipur and Nuagaon Station in Khurda Road-Balangir ongoing project and bypass line near Khurda Road between Haripur Gram and Argul Stations. Trial runs of Light Engines in both the Railway section are being successful to measure the feasibility of train lines for train traffic.
“This is an important project in Odisha. Once, the project will be completed, this will provide a vital railway link to economically backward districts of Odisha and will connect Eastern and Western Odisha through remote and underdeveloped tribal areas and will also make bridge between cultural heritage,” ECoR stated.
This railway line will also connect cities of Nayagarh, Phulbani, Boudh, Sonepur & Balangir with State Capital at Bhubaneswar via Khurda Road. Smaller towns like Begunia, Rajsunakhala, Bolagarh, Dasapalla, Banigochha, Jharsamunda, Purunapani, Jhartarbha will also be connected with State capital Bhubaneswar & Balangir and will reduce time of journey.
In the first phase, a 36 Kms stretch was opened for traffic between Khurda Road and Begunia in 2016. By mid of 2017, this line was completed up to Nayagarh Town, a distance of about 65kms from Khurda Road. To speed up the work, construction in this project made from both sides. A stretch of about 15 kms from Balangir to Bichhupalli opened for traffic in January, 2019. This project is being constructed with cost sharing basis from Dasapalla to Balangir with State Government.
The 3.099 Kms long bypass rail line project between Haripur Gram and Argul Station bypassing Khurda Road Station in Howrah-Chennai main line has tangible benefits. The bypass railway line will be able to reduce congestion between Khurda Road-Vizianagaram routes. This will also cater the consequential increasing of train traffic.
Construction of bypass rail line has become a necessity for timely running of trains. Further, increase in the efficiency and capacity of the railway link and will also reduce road traffic in the locality. This will bring down travel time, vehicle operating cost, fuel consumption, air pollution, accidents and road maintenance cost. Increased mobility and better accessibility will also open up business opportunities in the vicinity of railway line.
“Trains to and from Puri towards South directions is being delayed at Khurda Road Railway Station due to Engine reversal which blocks many lines at the Station causing delay of other trains. After commissioning of this project, this will be hassle free train operations. This will also reduce the train traffic capacity at Khurda Road Railway Station without affecting passengers sentiments. This bypass line connecting Arugul Station (South side of Khurda Road Station in Howrah-Chennai Main Line) and Haripur Gram Station (South East side of Khurda Road Station in Khurda Road-Puri Branch Line. Both the Stations covers in the expansion of localities of Khurda Road (Jatni area). After commissioning of this project, train timings will be reducing from about 30 minutes in Puri-Chennai route.”
ECoR Chief Administrative Officer (Construction) DP Lal, Divisional Railway Manager, Khurda Road Rinkesh Ray and Chief Project Manager, Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) AK Samal were present on the occasion.
