205.172.145.200 at 17:09, 15 February 2021

2021-02-15T17:09:16Z

New page

{{short description|Railway line in India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2018}}
{{Infobox rail line
| box_width = 28em
| name = Khurda Road–Bolangir line
| color =
| logo =
| logo_width =
| image = Khurda road railway station.jpg
| image_width =
| caption = Khurda Road, the starting station on Khurda Road–Bolangir line
| type = {{track gauge|1676mm}}
| system =
| status = Under construction
| locale = [[Odisha]]
| start = {{stnlnk|Khurda Road}}
| end = {{stnlnk|Balangir}}
| stations =
| routes =
| daily_ridership =
| open =
| close =
| owner = [[Indian Railways]]
| operator = [[East Coast Railway zone]]
| character =
| depot =
| stock =
| linelength = 92 KM completed. Completed sections = [[Bolangir]] to [[Bichhupali]] 16 KM and [[Mahipur]] to [[Khurda Road]] 76 KM
| tracklength = {{convert|306.25|km|mi|0|abbr=on}}<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.orissalinks.com/orissagrowth/topics/tnc-all/indian-railways-and-orissa/ecor/khurda-rd-balangir-under-contr | title=Length of the track | access-date=6 September 2014}}</ref>
| tracks = 1
| gauge = {{track gauge|1676mm}}
| old_gauge =
| minradius =
| racksystem =
| electrification = work is under progress
| speed = {{cvt|110|km/h}}
| elevation =
| website =
| map = {{Khurda Road–Bolangir line}}
| map_state = collpased
}}

The '''Khurda Road–Bolangir line''' is a rail line between {{stnlnk|Khurda Road Junction}} and {{stnlnk|Balangir}} which is under construction.

== History ==

It was surveyed in 1945 but the project was sanctioned in 1994–95. The state government has signed Memorandum of Understanding with [[Indian Railways]] to undertake some parts of the project on cost sharing basis.

The project which was initially estimated to be ₹1,000 crore (US$160 million) is now estimated to be nearly ₹2,000 crore (US$310 million) after almost 20 years of delay due to low budgetary provisions and issues of land acquisition.

This rail line will link cities of [[Nayagarh]], [[Phulbani]], [[Boudh]] and [[Subarnapur, Odisha|Sonepur]] with [[Bhubaneswar]] and [[Bolangir]]. Smaller towns like [[Daspalla]], [[Banigochha]] and [[Mahipur]] will also be linked by this rail line. Work at Bolangir side of this project is completed up till [[Bichhupali]] and [[Bhainsapali]].

The Khurda Road–Bolangir rail line will connect {{stnlnk|Khurda Road}} to {{stnlnk|Balangir}} in a shorter way through [[Daspalla]].<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/odisha-to-provide-free-land-bear-50-cost-of-khurdabolangir-railway-project/article5617382.ece | title=Odisha to provide free land, bear 50% cost of Khurda–Bolangir railway project | newspaper=The Hindu | date=25 January 2014 | access-date=26 October 2018}}</ref>

A new 306.25 km-long railway line from [[Balangir]] to [[Khurda Road]] junction was sanctioned in 1994 and its foundation stone was laid in June 2001 but there has been very little progress in construction of this railway line. Out of 306.25 km length, 26 km is in [[Balangir district]]. Even all the land required for the railway line had not been acquired until the end of 2011.

In 2015–16 Rail Budget, the rail line got a green signal from [[Minister of Railways]] [[Suresh Prabhu]] as Rs 4682 crore was allotted for [[Odisha]]. As construction will be done in three phases, first between [[Khurda Road]] to [[Begunia]] a 36 km stretch then 76 km from [[Begunia]] to [[Daspalla]] and 194.25 km from [[Daspalla]] to [[Balangir]] via [[Phulbani]] & [[Bhainsapali]] under the review of [[Chief Minister of Odisha]] [[Naveen Patnaik]].<ref>{{cite news | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhubaneswar/Khurda-Road-Balangir-rail-line-work-from-Dec/articleshow/48996136.cms | title=Khurda Road-Balangir rail line work from Dec | date=17 September 2015 | first=Sujit | last=Bijoy | newspaper=The Times of India | access-date=26 October 2018 }}</ref><ref>[http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/Odisha-CM-plea-to-Prabhu-for-MoUs-on-new-rail-lines/2016/07/03/article3511599.ece Odisha CM plea to Prabhu for MoUs on new rail lines]</ref><ref>[http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/Naveen-Patnaik-Reviews-Khurda-Balangir-Rail-Project/2015/11/17/article3132978.ece Naveen Patnaik Reviews Khurda-Balangir Rail Project]</ref><ref>[http://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/odisha-rlys-in-pact-for-khurda-road-bolangir-rail-link-115072001210_1.html Odisha, Rlys in pact for Khurda Road–Bolangir rail link]</ref>

In July 2016, Railway minister [[Suresh Prabhu]] inaugurated the [[Khordha Road]]–[[Begunia]] 36 km stretch and tracks are being laid from Begunia to [[Nayagarh]] which was completed by June 2017 and whole project to be completed in 2021.
Presently five trains run regularly between Khurda Road (KUR) and Nayagarh Town (NYGT) station.

On 15 January 2019 the prime minister of India, Sri [[Narendra Modi]] inaugurated the first train from Balangir to Bicchupalli Station on Bolangir–Khurda Road route.

This will connect [[Nayagarh]], [[Phulbani]], [[Boudh]], [[Sonepur, Odisha|Sonepur]] and [[Balangir]] which are economically backward districts in the state.<ref>[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhubaneswar/Train-services-to-be-extended-to-Bolagarh-by-June-end/articleshow/51446300.cms Train services to be extended to Bolagarh by June end]</ref>

== Current Status ==

The 41.5-km railway line between Khurda Road and Rajsunakhala has already been commissioned and two pairs of trains are running along the stretch.

On 20 March 2017, Mr [[Suresh Prabhu]] flag off the extension of Khurda Road-Rajsunakhala passenger train up to newly built Bolagarh Road station.

[[Nayagarh]] was put on the railway map of the country on 19 June 2017 when railway minister Suresh Prabhu formally dedicated the new line from Bolagarh Road to Nayagarh as part of the ongoing Khurda Road-Balangir project. Mr [[Suresh Prabhu]] commissioned the 12.8 km line formally by video link from New Delhi.

On 30 October 2018, a trial run on the newly laid railway track between Bolangir and Bhainsapalli(renamed as Bhichhupalli) on Khurda–Bolangir route was conducted.

On 15 January 2019 the prime minister of India, Sri [[Narendra Modi]] inaugurated the first train from Balangir to Bicchupalli station on Bolangir–Khurda Road route.

The East Coast Railway (ECoR) on Saturday (20 July 2019) conducted trial run of an engine on newly built track from Nayagarh Town to Mahipur (12 km) in the ongoing Khurda Road–Balangir (289-km) railway line project.
ECoR has already completed and commissioned about 80 km of rail line, including 65.455 km from Khurda Road to Nayagarh Town and 14.580 km from Balangir to Bichhupalli of the 25-year-old project.
With the newly built 12 km rail line from Nayagarh Town to Mahipur, altogether 92 km rail line of Khurda Road–Balangir ongoing project has been completed.

Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Thursday (26 December 2019) inaugurated the railway line between Nayagarh Town and Mahipur railway station as part of the ongoing Khurda Road–Bolangir rail project.

==References==
{{Reflist}}7.https://m.timesofindia.com/city/bhubaneswar/odisha-year-on-bichhupali-station-inaugurated-by-pm-gets-two-passengers-a-day/amp_articleshow/73263728.cms

{{DEFAULTSORT:Khurda Road-Bolangir rail line}}
[[Category:Transport in Bhubaneswar]]
[[Category:Proposed railway lines in India]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Odisha]]
[[Category:Transport in Balangir]]
[[Category:Sambalpur railway division]]
[[Category:Khurda Road railway division]]
[[Category:5 ft 6 in gauge railways in India]]

Khurda Road Bolangir line - Revision history

205.172.145.200 at 17:09, 15 February 2021