Angul-Sukinda new rail line cleared for goods traffic

The 92.825 km-long broad gauge single electrified railway line section between Budhapankh station in Angul district and Baghuapala station near Sukinda in Jajpur district has received authorisation for operation of goods traffic.

The Senior Administrative Grade (SAG) committee nominated by ECoR general manager comprising of Chief Safety Officer (CSO), Chief Track Engineer (CTE), Chief Electrical Distribution Engineer (CEDE) and Chief Signalling Engineer (CSE) of ECoR along with Chief Project Manager (CPM-II) of Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) and other officers of headquarters and Khurda Road Division inspected the new single line on February 21, 2023 and submitted their report on February 23, 2023.

Earlier, Commissioner Railway Safety (CRS) had inspected Budhapank and Baghuapal Station Yards and advised for modification of Station yards which has now been complied with all safety angles to run Goods Train.

Also read: Double line between Sagadapata and Tangiriapal opened for train movement

Based on the compliance to SAG Inspection Report and after perusal of various documents/certificates; the general manager under the powers delegated by Railway Board sanctioned for opening of the single line section for goods traffic up to a maximum permissible speed of 65 kmph, subject to the observance of all the permanent and temporary speed restrictions in force or those, which may be imposed from time to time.

This new rail-line would provide a direct link between iron-ore rich areas of Odisha (Joda-Barbil) to steel and sponge iron industries in Angul region. It will also provide a shorter and congestion free alternative route between coal mining belt of Talcher to coal based thermal power plant in Kalinganagar Industrial areas.

This will also be in close proximity to the steel plants in Angul region, NALCO and a cluster of industries located in Kalinganagar. Moreover, the dispatch of finished products from steel plants from Kalinganagar complex to destinations in Mumbai and Delhi via Talcher-Sambalpur-Jharsuguda will also be shorter and cheaper via the new alignment as compared to the route through Kharagpur.