Bhubaneswar: Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS), South Eastern Circle, Sumeet Singhal, Wednesday inspected the newly constructed 13.35-km Purunakatak-Charichhak section of the Khurda Road-Balangir Rail Line Project in Boudh district, marking a key step towards its commissioning. The inspection focused on the safety parameters and infrastructure facilities along the newly laid railway section and is considered an important step towards its commissioning and further expansion of rail connectivity into the interior regions of Odisha.
During the inspection, the CRS reviewed the track, signalling and telecommunication systems, bridges, viaducts, tunnel and other safety-related installations. He also conducted a speed trial run between Charichhak and Purunakatak stations to assess the readiness and safety of the newly constructed line. A major engineering feature of the section is Tunnel T-7, measuring 1,975 metres in length, which has been constructed through challenging terrain. The section also has two major viaducts with a combined length of about 1.9 km. Besides, the section includes a major bridge in the form of a Road Over Bridge (ROB). The newly constructed rail section has been equipped with modern railway infrastructure and prescribed safety measures, including advanced signalling and telecommunication systems, robust track infrastructure and other safety installations to facilitate safe and efficient train operations.
Senior officials of the East Coast Railway, including officials from its Construction Organisation, accompanied and assisted the CRS team during the detailed inspection. The team examined the infrastructure and safety arrangements at various locations along the section. The Khurda Road-Balangir Rail Line, spanning about 301 km, is a major railway project aimed at improving connectivity to the interior and underserved regions of Odisha. Railway infrastructure under the project has been progressively commissioned from both the Khurda Road and Balangir ends.
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