Bhubaneswar: The Indian Railways’ major new line between Sukinda in Jajpur district and Angul will be operational by February 15.
Managing director of Angul-Sukinda Railway Limited (ASRL) Dilip Kumar Smanatray said this during successful trial run of a goods train on the newly laid track on Monday. Either Prime Minister Narendra Modi or Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw will inaugurate the railway line. Subsequently, passenger trains will run on the track, he added.
The Centre had formed a special purpose vehicle ASRL for construction and maintenance of 98.7 km broad-gauge single line between Budhapank station in Angul district and Baghuapal station near Sukinda. The Railways carried out trial run of an engine on the new track on January 23.
The project was proposed in 199-98 budget and sanctioned in 1998-99. But it was incorporated in 2009. It has 230 minor bridges, 23 major bridges, 58 road over bridges (ROBs). There will be 11 stations between the two places to benefit around 1 crore people of Dhenkanal, Jajpur and Angul districts.
Samantray said the project entails a budget of Rs 27,00-2800 crore. Already the works worth Rs 2440 crore have been completed.
The new railway line will provide a direct link between iron ore rich areas like Joda and Barbil with steel and sponge iron industries in Angul. It will serve as a shorter route between the coal mining belt of Talcher and the coal-based thermal power plant in Kalinga Nagar industrial areas near Sukinda. It will also reduce the distance between Rourkela Steel Plant and Dhamra and Paradip ports, he added.
