The line will significantly improve mobility for districts including Nayagarh, Boudh, Sonepur and Balangir, enhancing access to markets, strengthening regional trade and supporting balanced socio-economic development.
Photo: SNS
Odisha is gearing up for a major rail connectivity infrastructure upgrade with the 301-km Khurda Road–Balangir New Railway Line, a transformative project that will connect coastal Odisha with its western region.
The line will significantly improve mobility for districts including Nayagarh, Boudh, Sonepur and Balangir, enhancing access to markets, strengthening regional trade and supporting balanced socio-economic development.
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The project demands extensive engineering due to the undulating terrain, particularly between Dasapalla and Boudh. Key works include multiple tunnels, viaducts, deep cuttings, and high embankments to ensure safer and smoother train movement. Several tunnels are under construction to maintain gentle gradients with minimal environmental disruption, while long viaducts ensure safe passage across valleys, rivers and sensitive forest zones.
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A defining feature of the project is the construction of India’s second-longest railway viaduct, created to integrate with the upcoming Bhrutang irrigation project reservoir.
The project also includes elephant underpasses and overpasses, dedicated wildlife corridors, and systems designed in consultation with forest authorities to ensure unhindered movement of elephants and other wildlife. These features minimise habitat fragmentation and reduce human–animal conflict.
Once operational, the Khurda Road–Balangir line is expected to boost trade, improve transportation, support tourism across forest belts, and strengthen the rail network while prioritizing environmental safeguards, making it one of eastern India’s most significant railway developments.
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