Bhubaneswar: Indian Railways has approved doubling of the 6-km Barbil-Bolanikhadan railway section in Odisha at an estimated completion cost of ₹122 crore, a move aimed at augmenting freight capacity on the mineral-rich route, according to an official release.
The doubling of the South Eastern Railway section is expected to enable an additional 8.9 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of freight traffic once commissioned and help reduce delays in the movement of freight trains.
The Barbil-Bolanikhadan stretch is part of Indian Railways’ designated Energy, Mineral and Cement Corridor. At present, it is a single-line section handling around 9 MTPA, including about six loaded rakes of originating iron ore traffic daily.
The freight primarily comprises high-grade iron ore and pellets transported from SAIL’s Bolani mines and private sidings of Rungta, Khatau and Narbheram to steel plants and ports.
According to the release, doubling the stretch before the full expansion of SAIL’s mining operations and additional port and plant capacities will help address potential capacity constraints along the mineral corridor.
The project is also expected to strengthen rail connectivity for iron ore movement and support the anticipated growth in mining, industrial and port activities in the region.
