Khurda Road-Balangir New Line Project: Tunnel breakthrough complete on key Odisha rail link, ET Infra
The breakthrough of all seven tunnels along the 75-km stretch between Daspalla and Purunakatak of the Khurda Road-Balangir new line project has been completed. East Coast Railway (ECoR) sources said tunnel number 2 - measuring 1,775 metres with a 2-degree curve - is the second longest among the project's tunnels and was constructed using the advanced New Austrian Tunneling Method (NATM). The final breakthrough of the tunnel was completed on May 30."Constructing the tunnels in the hilly terrains amid several challenges is an achievement," said ECoR in a statement.ECoR data revelaed that the total tunnel length of this new line project is 12.76 km. Nayagarh district has three tunnels while Boudh district has four tunnels.
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India Gazette
3 days ago
- India Gazette
2.7 km long continuous tunnel completed with first breakthrough in 21 km tunnel between BKC and Shilphata
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Time of India
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Hans India
12-06-2025
- Hans India
ECoR GM inspects section on Khurda Rd-Bolangir route
Bhubaneswar: The East Coast Railway (ECoR) General Manager, Parmeshwar Funkwal, conducted an inspection of the under-construction Sonepur–Purunakatak railway section, which is part of Khurda Road–Bolangir new line project. Senior officers from ECoR headquarters, construction officials and officials from Sambalpur Railway Division accompanied the GM during the inspection on Tuesday. The visit focused on reviewing the progress of the project and ensuring adherence to the targeted timelines. Funkwal emphasised timely execution and urged officials to expedite the pending works while maintaining quality and safety standards. He also reviewed critical infrastructure components and advised necessary steps for on-time completion. The Sonepur–Purunakatak section has already been completed. This development will improve regional connectivity and boost economic growth in Western Odisha. This flagship project, closely monitored by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, is considered a lifeline for interior regions of the State. The ECoR sources said out of the total 301 km planned length, 226 km has already been commissioned, including Khurda Road to Daspalla (106 km) and Bolangir to Purunakatak (120 km). The remaining 75 km stretch between Daspalla and Purunakatak is under construction and is expected to be completed by December 2026. This stretch is particularly challenging as it passes through reserve forests, wildlife sanctuaries and hilly terrains. To protect the region's ecological integrity, ECoR is constructing seven tunnels (totaling 12.7 km), including the longest at 4.18 km as well as wildlife passages and viaducts for safe animal movement. The project features an environment-sensitive design aimed at minimising deforestation and saving nearly 2 lakh trees. A major engineering highlight of the project is 4.77 km long viaduct being constructed near the proposed Bhrutang Irrigation Project reservoir. Upon completion, it will become the second longest railway bridge in India, after Bogibeel Bridge in Assam. With a focus on sustainable development and passenger-centric infrastructure, the Khurda Road–Bolangir railway project is set to transform connectivity in Odisha while setting new benchmarks in eco-friendly rail construction.
