Railway Traction Power Transmission Projects Put on Fast Track In Odisha

Bhubaneswar: Chief Secretary Suresh Chnadra Mohapatra on Monday set timelines for completion of different railway traction power transmission projects and asked Odisha Power Transmission Corporation (OPTCL) to adhere to the timeline.

At a high-level meeting on digital mode from Loka Seva Bhawan to review the progress and resolve ground-level issues, Mohapatra asked the Principal Secretary, Energy to take a monthly review of the work schedule in coordination with departments concerned for expeditious implementation.

Railways were asked to complete construction of their power conversion sub-stations in pace with power supply projects of OPTCL. It is worthy to mention here that OPTCL supplies 132 Kv or 220 Kv power to railway feeders. MCL was requested to expedite the issue of no objection certificates for Belpahar transmission tower.

Principal Secretary, Energy, NB Dhal said around 27 railway traction transmission projects have been assigned to OPTCL, of which 7 projects have been completed within the scheduled time at an investment of around Rs 59 crore. Another 17 projects estimated around Rs 247 crore are in different phases of implementation and 3 are in process of tendering.

Chairman of OPTCL Dr Sourabh Garg said commissioning of power supply to railway lines like Titilagarh-Sambalpur-Jharsuguda; Singapur-Damanjodi, Lanjigarh-Junagarh; Nuapada-Gunupur; Tatanagar-Badampahar; Khurda-Nuagao and Rupsa-Bangiriposi have been expedited.

Secretary, IT and Commissioner Railway Coordination Manoj Kumar Mishra, Project Director OPTCL Rajiv Lochan Panda, Principal Chief Engineer Railways Basudeb Panda attended the meeting along with senior officers of Railways, OPTCL and departments concerned.