The demand for a rail link between Jajpur Road and Dhamra gathered momentum recently with the Railway Board giving the green signal for the project. It will act as an economic corridor between mineral-rich Sukinda and Kalinga Nagar industrial hub, and Dhamra Port. It will also connect the district headquarters in Jajpur, which is home to the famous Viraja Temple. Bhitarkanika sanctuary and Akhandalamani Temple will get connected by railway lines.
Project Sanction and Status: The rail link, a long-standing demand, was sanctioned in 2012-13. The Ministry of Railways has recently prioritised it, and a Final Location Survey (FLS) was sanctioned in September 2023. The detailed project report (DPR) has been submitted by the East Coast Railway (ECoR) to the Railway Board for approval.
Proposed Route: The proposed new broadgauge railway line is 96 km to 101 km long and will connect Jajpur-Keonjhar Road to Dhamra Port. The route is confirmed to pass through Jajpur Town and other locations such as Aradi, Bhitarkanika, and Chandabali.
Feasibility and Justification:
* Economic Viability — The project is considered economically viable with a reported Rate of Return (ROR) of 24.22% to 27.43%. It is estimated to cost around Rs 2,996.82 crore.
* Freight Movement — A primary objective is to enhance freight movement by providing a direct link between industrial clusters like Kalinganagar, mineral-rich Sukinda valley, Keonjhar and Talcher, and Dhamra Port. This new line will decongest the existing Howrah-Chennai trunk route.
* Passenger Connectivity — The line will significantly improve passenger connectivity, particularly by linking key religious and tourist destinations such as Maa Biraja Temple in Jajpur town, Baba Akhandalamani Shrine at Aradi, and Bhitarkanika National Park.
* Strategic Importance — The project aligns with the Prime Minister’s ‘Purvodaya’ vision and the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan, which focus on developing integrated, multi-modal infrastructure for enhanced logistics and regional growth.
* Socio-Economic Benefits – The project is expected to benefit over 30 lakh people and reduce the travel distance between Jajpur Road and Dhamra Port by around 12 to 13 km.
The project has progressed from a long-pending proposal to an active and evaluated one with a positive feasibility assessment. It is now awaiting the final approval of its DPR to proceed with the next phases of land acquisition and construction. The Odisha government should come forward to provide land for the project free of cost and financial assistance for the same in line with its existing policy.
