The Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) on Thursday carried out a thorough inspection of the newly laid 3rd line between Baitarani Road and Jajpur Keonjhar Road, a stretch of 11.634 km, forming part of the larger Bhadrak–Nergundi 3rd line corridor on the Howrah–Chennai Main Line, under the Khurda Road Division of East Coast Railway (ECoR).
During the inspection, a motor trolley run was conducted to examine the track and associated infrastructure. A full-speed trial was also conducted to validate that the track is fit for regular train operations.
The CRS team examined all critical safety components, including rail track geometry and alignment, crossings and turnouts, bridges and minor works structures, signals, interlocking systems, and related safety gear, as well as drainage, protective works, and fencing/guarding.
The purpose of the inspection is to certify that the stretch is safe and compliant with requisite standards before it is commissioned for traffic. Once the CRS grants formal clearance, train services will begin operations over this third line section.
This latest inspection is part of ongoing efforts to progressively open new segments of the Bhadrak–Nergundi third-line route. The entire project spans approximately 92.19 km in length and aims to decongest the Howrah–Chennai trunk route and enhance operational flexibility.
Earlier segments, such as the 16.80 km Haridaspur–Byree section, were also inspected by the CRS, underwent speed trials, and were subsequently commissioned. To date, more than 65 km of the overall project work has been completed.
The Bhadrak–Nergundi third line was conceived in the 2012–13 plan and received final sanction in October 2015. Key stretches commissioned earlier include Jakhapura to Haridaspur (23.53 km) — completed April 2016, Kapilas Road to Salegaon (4.30 km) — commissioned in May 2019, Kapilas Road to Nergundi (4.20 km) — commissioned in October 2022, Byree-Dhanmandal-Haridaspur -16.8 km – commissioned in September 2023, and Ranital Junction – Bhadrak – 5.05 km – commissioned in December 2024.
The project is targeted for completion in the financial year 2026-2027, with the estimated project cost currently pegged at Rs 1,284.39 crore.
Once fully commissioned, the third line will provide greater throughput and operational resilience on the Howrah–Chennai corridor, reduce congestion, improve punctuality, and foster economic growth in the region.