Khordha Road–Bolangir rail line to be fully operational by 2026 end: ECoR

Rail services on the Khordha Road–Bolangir railway line are expected to become fully operational by the end of 2026, said East Coast Railway (ECoR) General Manager Parameshwar Funkwal on Saturday.

During an inspection visit, Funkwal reviewed safety arrangements for passengers, railway tracks and station infrastructure along the project corridor. He assessed the progress of construction works and the preparedness of the system to ensure safe and smooth train operations once the line is fully commissioned.

Rail traffic has already been normalised on the Khordha Road to Daspalla section of the line. Meanwhile, construction work between Daspalla and Puruna Katak is progressing at a rapid pace, railway officials said.

The General Manager stated that efforts are being made to complete the remaining work at the earliest so that rail services on the entire Khordha Road–Bolangir stretch can be made fully operational. He emphasised that safety remains a top priority and all necessary measures are being taken to meet operational and security standards.

“The objective of the inspection is to assess passenger safety and identify lacunae at stations between Khurda Road and Daspalla, and to address them. We have set a target to make the Khurda Road–Bolangir line operational by 2026,” Funkwal said.

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The completion of the Khordha Road–Bolangir railway line is expected to significantly improve connectivity between coastal and western Odisha, facilitating passenger movement, trade and regional development.