East Coast Railway’s (ECoR) Construction wing did final detonation to force the breakthrough in the 840-metre long tunnel in Baruan Hill on Monday.The tunnel is situated between Sunakhani and Samal stations – a part of 149.78-km new line project (sanctioned in 2003-04) connecting Talcher and Bimlagarh.
Union Rail Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, in his recent visit to Odisha had asked ECoR officials to expedite and complete long pending sanctioned works at the earliest. Once completed, the Talcher – Bimlagarh will reduce the distance between Raurkela and Talcher by about 126 km.
Present status
Railways have commissioned 20 kms of rail line between Talcher and Sunakhani railway stations in on-going New Rail line between Talcher and Bimalagarh in December, 2019. Works are on for another 16.30 km stretch between Sunakhani and Parabil in Angul District.
Of the total length of 149.78 km, about 79 Kms falls in Angul district, about 32 km in Deogarh district and about 39 km in Sundargarh district.
Project hurdles
The project has faced major roadblocks due to slow progress of land Acquisition in Deogarh and Sundergarh Districts. ECoR is in the process of expediting the land acquisition work in these districts so that construction works from Bimalagarh side may be carried on.
Completion of Railway projects depends on factors such as land acquisition, forest clearance, shifting of infringing utilities, statutory clearances from various authorities, geology and topography of the area, law and order at the project site, besides climatic conditions.
