Of tunnels & passes | How Khordha-Bolangir rail line is cutting through obstacles

As many as seven tunnels are currently being constructed in Nayagarh and Boudh districts to give way to the much-awaited 301-kilometre-long Khordha-Bolangir railway line. 

As the under-construction railway line passes through forests, hills, and rivers, the Indian Railways is constructing bridges, viaducts, and tunnels. 

For these tunnels, while workers are working day and night, high-end technologies like the New Austrian Tunnel Method are being employed. Of the seven tunnels, the longest one’s length is 4.185 kilometres. As mishap always lurks behind such tunnel construction work, all the safety mechanisms are in place to tackle any eventualities and speed up the rescue operation. 

Also Read: Khordha-Bolangir rail line: Rs 1,350 outlay proposed in interim budget 

The 800-metre-long bridge on the Tel River connecting Boudh to Sonepur had been challenging the railway authorities. Its construction was getting delayed due to the river’s backwater and boulders under its surface. 

“The bridge over the Tel River had been a challenge for the Indian Railways. It has been completed. With the blessings of the Lord Jagannath, we want to proceed with a trial run on it,” said Rabindra Kumar Mohanty, Deputy Chief Engineer, Boudh Division.

Besides tunnels, an 18-meter-huge viaduct over the forested area, underpasses, and overpasses are also being constructed for the safety of wild animals.  

“The full-fledged work is going on for 150 kilometres of the project. All the previous obstacles like land acquisition are over now. Our focus is now on the completion of the project so that the train can run between Khordha and Bolangir,” said Rajesh Kumar Das, Deputy Chief Engineer, Dasapalla Division. 

About half of the 301-kilometre-long railway line has been completed. On these completed portions-10 kilometers from the Khordha side and 50 kilometres from the Bolangir side to Sonepur-trains are running. The Railways expects that the work will complete soon and trains will run between Khordha and Bolangir by December 2025. 

Once commissioned, a long cherished dream of people will come true. 

“If we find the strata supportive, the progress of work will be fast and be completed by November 2025. Otherwise, the construction work will get delayed and it may take one or two months more,” said Rabindra Kumar Mohanty, Deputy Chief Engineer, Boudh Division.