After 100+ Years Waiting Khurda-Balangir Rail Line Nears Completion

The long pending Khurda Road-Balangir railway line, a 301 km project conceived before Independence and is finally nearing full completion and is expected to be ready by early next year. Passing through five districts of Odisha like Khurda, Nayagarh, Boudh, Sonepur and Balangir the ₹5,000 crore project is not just about connectivity. It is being hailed as an engineering marvel that integrates environmental safeguards, wildlife corridors and eco-friendly construction practices.

Khurda-Balangir Railway Line: A 301-Km Connectivity Boost

The Khurda Balangir railway line spans 301 km and connects remote districts in Odisha’s interior to the broader rail network.

Key highlights,

• Connects five districts: Khurda, Nayagarh, Boudh, Sonepur and Balangir
• Three districts Nayagarh, Sonepur and Boudh received rail connectivity for the first time
• ₹5,000 crore investment
• 226 km already operational

Currently, four trains operate between Khurda Road and Daspalla, and three between Balangir and Purunakatak, carrying nearly 5,000 passengers daily.

The project is implemented by East Coast Railway.

Engineering Marvel Near Satkosia Tiger Reserve

A crucial 75-km stretch between Daspalla (Nayagarh) and Purunakatak (Boudh) runs alongside Baisipalli Wildlife Sanctuary & part of the Satkosia Tiger Reserve.

To minimise habitat fragmentation and reduce man-animal conflict,

• Seven tunnels covering 12.76 km were constructed
• 12 wildlife/elephant underpasses built
• Six wildlife overpasses installed

Dedicated corridors for elephant movement designed in consultation with the forest department

Odisha records an average of 85 elephant deaths annually. The project prioritized safe wildlife passage to reduce rail collisions.

4.77 Km Viaduct: Second-Longest in Indian Railways

• The most significant structure on the Khurda Balangir railway line is a 4.77-km viaduct, with piers rising up to 26 metres.
• Once commissioned, it will become the second longest viaduct in Indian Railways after the Bogibeel Bridge in Assam.
• The viaduct also functions as a wildlife underpass, enabling elephants and other animals to move freely underneath without obstruction.

Eco-Friendly Construction and Tree Conservation

To minimize environmental impact, East Coast Railway adopted eco-sensitive practices,

• High-rise viaducts replaced large embankments
• Approximately two lakh trees were saved
• Reduced soil excavation between Buguda and Banigochha stations
• Post-construction, tunnel rooftops will be developed into grazing grounds

Officials describe elephants as “ecosystem engineers” whose survival supports biodiversity and ecological balance. The railway design seeks to preserve these natural processes.

Operational Progress and District Connectivity

The Khurda Balangir railway line has already transformed regional connectivity,

• Nayagarh connected in 2017
• Sonepur connected in 2024
• Boudh connected in 2025

For many residents, this marks their first access to rail services since Independence.

The line is expected to boost trade, passenger mobility and regional economic integration in western Odisha.

Background: A Pre-Independence Vision Realised

• The Khurda-Balangir railway project was conceived even before India gained Independence but faced decades of delays due to terrain challenges, forest clearances and funding constraints.
• Executing the line through forested and hilly terrain required extensive tunnelling, elevated structures and wildlife sensitive design.
• The completion of the remaining section next year will close one of India’s oldest pending railway infrastructure projects.

Question

Q. The Khurda Road-Balangir railway line passes alongside which wildlife sanctuary?

A) Simlipal
B) Bhitarkanika
C) Baisipalli
D) Debrigarh