Bhubaneswar: The engineering team of East Coast Railway (ECoR) has conducted the final detonation for the 840 metre long tunnel in Baruan Hill between Sunakhani and Samal stations of the Talcher-Bimlagarh new broad gauge railway link project.
The 149.78-km project, sanctioned in 2003-04, has faced major roadblocks due to slow progress of land acquisition in Deogarh and Sundergarh districts. The ECoR has been in constant touch with state and district administration to expedite the land acquisition process for speeding up the implementation of the project from Bimalagarh side, according to a release.
After completing 20 km of the Talcher-Sunakhani railway line of the project in December, 2019, the Railways has been working on 16.30-km stretch between Sunakhani and Parabil in Angul district.
Out of total 149.78 km railway line of the project, about 79 km come under Angul district, 32 km under Deogarh and 39 km under Sundargarh.
Once the project is completed, the link will reduce the distance between Raurkela and Talcher by about 126 km. It will also help in movement of export quality iron ore through ports.
It may be noted that during his last visit to Odisha, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw had advised the officials to take necessary action and coordinate with other agencies to complete the long pending works at the earliest.
