The state government has sanctioned Rs 150 crore for the Khurda Road-Bolangir line project for the early execution of the project. The Indian Railway commissioned the 10.5 km line between Bichhupali and Jhartarbha of Khurda Road-Bolangir line on 10 November 2022.
The state government has allotted land free of cost and will bear 50 per cent construction cost for the 306.25 km Khurda Road-Bolangir railway project. Recently, the state government held a high-level meeting with senior officials from the Central government, Railway, Forest Department, and Revenue Department to expedite the project. Decisions have also been taken to fast-track the forest clearance at the earliest in a time-bound manner.
The project is being delayed due to the non-issuance of Stage-I forest clearance. Of the total length of 306 km the Khurda Road-Bolangir new railway project, 91 km from Khurda Road to Nuagaon has been commissioned. Now, another 10.5 km between Bichhupali and Jhartarbha is commissioned. While work is progressing from Nuagaon to Daspalla (91 km to 106 km) and is set to commission by March 2023. Work from Daspalla to Buguda (106 km to 121 km) is progressing very slowly due to the non-issuance of stage-I forest clearance from the Ministry of Environment and Forest. Similarly, work from Buguda to Banigocha is also stuck due to stage-I forest clearance. Overall, the forest clearance for 112 km to 180 km is pending, work from 180 km to 275 km is under progress, and work from 275 km-301 km has already been commissioned.
The railways is constructing the railway line from Khurda Road and Bolangir (from both sides), for early completion of the project.
