The Ministry of Railways has approved a flyover project to alleviate traffic congestion at Khurda Road station in Odisha. Based on a proposal from East Coast Railway (ECoR), the ministry sanctioned the project to ensure smooth train operations on the Howrah-Chennai main line and Khurda Road-Puri branch line, ECoR announced in a statement on Tuesday.
The project, part of the Indian Railways’ energy corridor scheme, is a crucial step towards improving the efficiency and capacity of train movements in this busy section, according to the statement.
The 7.41 km long flyover, estimated to cost Rs 191.87 crore, will address the growing train traffic issues by providing dedicated infrastructure for trains from Puri to connect to the down line towards Bhubaneswar without crossing other lines at Khurda Road station.
This new flyover will eliminate delays caused by cross-movements, enhancing the average speed and operational efficiency of trains on both the Howrah-Chennai Main Line and Khurda Road-Puri Branch Line. Trains on the Main Line will no longer be detained at Khurda Road Station, significantly reducing the waiting time for trains approaching this busy junction.
Currently, train movements must be halted at Khurda Road to allow for cross-traffic from the Puri direction, causing delays and operational inefficiencies.
This new rail flyover is expected to enhance the overall travel experience for passengers and boost the operational capabilities of Indian Railways in the region by enabling hassle-free train movement and eliminating cross-movement detention, ECoR said.