Indian Railways has sanctioned a mega infrastructural development project that amounts to Rs 509 crore for two major flyovers in Odisha. The main purpose behind the move is to increase the operational efficiency and reduce congestion of traffic on important railway routes in the state. The Indian Railways are interested in developing the area with these investments in capacity and smooth flow of train traffic.
Cuttack and Rayagada Districts Flyover Projects
The approved projects will be located in two key districts of Odisha—Cuttack and Rayagada. These flyovers will streamline train operations, reduce delays, and enhance the overall passenger experience by providing dedicated tracks and routes for trains.
Cuttack: 10.89-km Rail Flyover
The first of these major projects is a 10.89-km rail flyover in Cuttack district, which has been sanctioned with a budget of Rs 268.92 crore. The flyover will connect crucial railway stations like Rajathgarh, Radhakishorepur, and Machhapur. It will allow the simultaneous movement of trains, which will considerably reduce the delays caused by cross-traffic at these busy junctions. This will ensure smooth train operations, and thereby contribute to better service and more reliable travel times.
Raipur-Vizianagaram line flyover
The second is the Rs 240 crore Raipur-Vizianagaram line flyover in Waltair division of East Coast Railway (ECoR). The line has long been a bottleneck in train movement. Specifically, the Singapore Road-Rayagada section has long been the trouble point. A new 5.5 km long flyover would reduce the bottlenecks and help ease out traffic. These will also connect seamlessly to the loop line at Singapur Road for an effective reduction of waiting times to optimize operations and avoid being trapped due to traffic at junctions.
Key Benefits of Flyovers
These flyovers form part of a greater vision adopted by Indian Railways as one measures and addresses critical capacity issues through smooth, uninterrupted train movements across key routes. Here’s what the new infrastructure would provide in terms of some key benefits:
- Operation Optimization: The flyovers are reducing the bottlenecks, and the flow of trains has been improved. This will largely increase the operational efficiency of the railway system in Odisha.
- Uninterrupted Movement of Trains: There will be separate tracks for each stream to ensure smooth operation. This will minimize delays and travel stoppages.
- Passenger Experience Boost: With more efficiently managed train schedules and reduced congestion, it will provide passengers with lesser travel times and on-time services.
- Economic Connectivity Strengthening: These enhancements are crucial to the energy, mineral, and cement corridor of Indian Railways, enhancing connectivity for industries and boosting regional economy.
Restructuring and Additional Infrastructure Development
Indian Railways is taking up additional infrastructural development at Odisha in addition to flyovers. The largest yard reworking will be done at Bhadrak railway station where there will be better train management by ensuring that trains can pass through the minimum waiting time.
Furthermore, the third line construction work is also undergoing in the Bhadrak-Ranital railway section, which will once again free up more capacity constraints of the region. The section’s non-interlocking work is also targeted to smoothen out train movements through Bhadrak station for smooth passage and would eventually enhance the operational efficiency and reduce delays all over the state.
Strategic Importance of Indian Railways
The fact of its improving itself, over and above train development under Odisha, is included as part of the flyover upgrade. Such flyovers elevate the efficiency of the network rail within the East Coast Railway Zone which acts as a staple for transportation in India. A less delayed and better scheduled whole set of trains would contribute, in turn, to making a thriving and streamlined set of a whole railway system.
Conclusion
The investment of Rs 509 crore in two major flyovers in Cuttack and Rayagada districts marks an important milestone in the ongoing efforts of Indian Railways to further improve infrastructure, train operations, and reduce congestion. It will ensure a huge advantage to the passengers as well as to the railway network, bringing in better, faster, more reliable travel across the region. With these projects, Indian Railways has been taking steps toward modern and more efficient transportation in Odisha in order to help spur economic activity in the region.
Refer :
TOI, Link to article
Also read : President Droupadi Murmu Lays Foundation for Key Railway and Infrastructure Projects in Odisha