In a step towards enhancing railway infrastructure in Odisha, the Ministry of Railways has sanctioned the 4th line between Ranital Link Cabin and Bhadrak station (5.06 km) at an estimated cost of Rs 149.32 crore, said East Coast Railway (ECoR) officials on Thursday.
This vital project will significantly boost the capacity and efficiency of train operations along the Howrah–Chennai mainline and improve freight connectivity to Dhamra and Paradeep ports. The Ranital Link Cabin–Bhadrak section is part of the Howrah–Chennai High-Density Network (HDN), one of the busiest railway corridors in the country, they claimed.
The newly sanctioned fourth line will help decongest the corridor by separating port-bound freight traffic from the mainline, ensuring faster and more punctual operations for both passenger and Mail/Express trains. It will also support the smooth movement of more coaching trains between Kharagpur and Bhubaneswar, and beyond.
Currently, the section experiences heavy congestion, which often leads to the detention of trains. With the completion of this project, operational restrictions will be eased, enabling a more reliable and timely train schedule for the public.
This project will also facilitate the segregation of freight and coaching trains, minimising delays and improving overall route efficiency. The increased line capacity will further allow for additional traffic movement to meet the growing demands of the region.
This initiative is part of East Coast Railway’s continuous mission to modernise its infrastructure and create a world-class railway network for the people of Odisha, ECoR officials concluded.