The 92.825 km long broad gauge single electrified railway line between Budhapankh station and Baghuapala in Odisha has received authorisation for operation of goods traffic, an official statement issued by ECoR said.
This new rail-line provides a direct link between iron-ore rich areas of Odisha (Joda-Barbil) to steel and sponge iron industries in Angul region. It will also provide a shorter and congestion free alternative route between coal mining belt of Talcher to coal based thermal power plant in Kalinganagar Industrial areas.
This will also be in close proximity to steel plants in Angul region, NALCO and a cluster of Industries located in Kalinganagar area of Odisha.
Dispatch of finished products of steel plants from Kalinganagar complex to destinations in Mumbai and Delhi via Talcher-Sambalpur-Jharsuguda will also be shorter and cheaper via the new alignment as compared with the route via Kharagpur.
The project is being funded through public private partnership (PPP) model as envisaged in the Concession Agreement signed between the Ministry of Railways and ASRL on May 14, 2010. The funding pattern for this project was through equity-participation from stake-holders and debt raised from market.
Angul-Sukinda Railway Ltd (ASRL), an SPV has been incorporated on February 20, 2009 by Ministry of Railways through Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd (RVNL) for construction and maintenance of broad gauge single railway line between Budhapank Station (Angul) and Baghuapala Station (Sukinda).
ECoR General Manager Manoj Sharma has congratulated the team of ASRL and RVNL for this accomplishment. The Senior Administrative Grade (SAG) Committee nominated by ECoR General Manager inspected the newly constructed BG single line between Budhapank and Baghuapal stations covering a length of 92.825 km in Khurda Road Division of East Coast Railway on February 21, 2023 and submitted their inspection report on February 23, 2023.
Earlier, Commissioner Railway Safety (CRS) had inspected Budhapank and Baghuapal station yards and advised for modification of station yards which has now been complied with all safety angles to run goods train.
Based on the compliance to SAG Inspection Report and after perusal of various documents/certificates, the general manager under the powers delegated by Railway Board has sanctioned for opening of the newly built BG Electrified Single Line Section for goods traffic up to a maximum permissible speed of 65 kmph, subject to the observance of all permanent and temporary speed restrictions in force or those, which may be imposed from time to time, an official release said.
