Bhubaneswar: In view of the rapid and sustained growth in passenger travel demand, East Coast Railway (ECoR) has drawn up a comprehensive plan to double the train-originating capacity of major cities under its jurisdiction over the next five years, with a target year of 2030. The initiative focuses on significantly enhancing infrastructure at key urban centres, particularly Bhubaneswar, Puri and Visakhapatnam, to meet the projected travel requirements of the coming decade.
Railway officials said the existing passenger-handling infrastructure at these cities is being systematically augmented through a mix of terminal expansion, development of new satellite facilities and strengthening of sectional capacity. The objective is to ensure that the increased demand for new train services can be met without operational bottlenecks while maintaining safety and efficiency.
At the core of the plan is the expansion of terminal infrastructure, which includes the addition of platforms, stabling lines, pit lines and shunting facilities. Alongside this, East Coast Railway is identifying and developing new terminals in and around urban areas to decongest existing stations.
Maintenance facilities are also being upgraded, with proposals for mega coaching complexes to support higher volumes of rolling stock. To handle the increased movement of trains, the railway is undertaking traffic facility works, signalling upgrades and multitracking projects at critical sections.
While planning capacity enhancement at Bhubaneswar, Puri and Visakhapatnam, nearby stations are also being integrated into the strategy to ensure balanced utilisation of infrastructure. In Puri, two additional full-length integrated pit lines are currently under construction to supplement the existing six. The entire coaching maintenance facility is proposed to be shifted to a new second coaching terminal depot on the sanctioned Puri–Konark new line, where a large-scale coaching complex is also planned following the final location survey.
In Bhubaneswar, the upcoming Bhubaneswar New Station is being developed as a satellite coaching terminal with maintenance facilities, including two pit lines at Mancheswar and dedicated connectivity. Given space constraints in the city area, new depots are being planned at nearby locations to support long-term growth.
Visakhapatnam is set to witness a major transformation, with a detailed project report for yard modification under consideration by the Railway Board. The proposal includes the addition of five new lines, six passenger platforms, ten stabling lines and the introduction of electronic interlocking. In addition, Jaganadhpuram station on the proposed Kottavalasa–Anakapalle bypass line is being planned as a mega coaching maintenance depot and large-scale complex to function as a satellite station for the city.
To support the higher number of originating and passing trains, several sectional capacity enhancement works are progressing simultaneously. These include automatic block signalling and flyovers in the Puri area, pit line electrification, safety fencing, fourth-line works and bypass surveys around Bhubaneswar, and multiple third, fourth, fifth and sixth line projects, flyovers and bypasses in the Visakhapatnam region.
Railway sources said the initiative forms part of a larger national plan covering 48 major cities identified by Indian Railways for capacity augmentation. The plan consolidates works that have already been sanctioned, are under execution or are at the proposal stage, all aimed at achieving a time-bound doubling of train-handling capacity.
Although the target year for full capacity doubling is 2030, East Coast Railway has emphasised that capacity will be enhanced progressively over the next five years. This phased approach is intended to ensure that the benefits of infrastructure expansion are realised immediately, helping to meet rising traffic requirements year after year. The action plan categorises works into immediate, short-term and long-term measures, with clear timelines and defined outcomes.
East Coast Railway said it remains committed to increasing train-handling capacity across its divisions by addressing not only terminal limitations at Bhubaneswar, Puri and Visakhapatnam, but also sectional capacity constraints and operational challenges at stations and yards, thereby strengthening the region’s rail network for the future.
