___________

Following is an excerpt from a report in Orissadiary.

217 Puri-Palasa passenger which is leaving Puri at 07.50a.m and arriving Palasa at 03.25p.m will leave Palasa at 04.30p.m and will arrive at Paralakhemundi at 06.45p.m in the extended portion. In the return direction, 218 Paralakhemundi-Puri Passenger will leave Paralakhemundi at 07.45a.m and will arrive at Puri at 09.05p.m.

This train will stop at Pundi, Rauthpuram, Naupada, Tekkali, Pedasana, Temburu, Ganguvada, and Pathapatnam between Palasa and Paralakhemundi. The timings of 217/218 Puri-Paralakhemundi-Puri passenger will remain unchanged between Puri & Palasa. The train will run as a special train on the flagging off day of the extended portion and the regular run will be from Puri w.e.f 19th December and from Paralakhemundi w.e.f 20th Dec’2010.

…

8447 Bhubaneswar-Koraput Hirakhand Express, which is leaving Bhubaneswar at 07.35p.m and arriving Koraput at 09.45a.m on the next day, will leave Koraput at 10.05a.m and will arrive at Jagadalpur at 12.40p.m in the extended portion. In the return direction, 8448 Jagadalpur-Bhubaneswar Hirakhand Express will leave Jagadalpur at 03.30p.m and will arrive at Bhubaneswar at 08.25a.m on the next day.

This train will stop at Jeypore and Jagadalpur in the extended portion. The timings of 8447/8448 Bhubaneswar-Jagadalpur-Bhubaneswar Hirakhand Express will remain unchanged between Bhubaneswar and Koraput. The train will run as a special train on the day of flagging off of the extended portion and the regular run will be from Bhubaneswar on 18th December and from Jagadalpur from 19th Dec’2010.

Indian Express has a nice article on the history of Parlakhemundi light railway. Following are some excerpts.

Paralakhemedi Light Railway (PLR) was two feet six inches gauge railway. It was the brainchild of the erstwhile Raja of Paralakhemedi. The Kimedi country, consisting of Paralakhemedi, Paddakimedi and Chinna Kimedi, was under a single ruler till 1607. Paralakhemedi came under the British influence in 1768.

East Coast Railway came into existence in the year 1893 with the construction of the Cuttack-Khurda Road-Puri line, covering a distance of 96 kms and its subsequent link along the East Coast up to Vijayawada — junction point of Southern Maratha Railway and Nizam’s Guaranteed State Railway. As a result, a stretch of 1280 kms of East Coast Railway, covering the entire coastal stretch of Cuttack, Khurda Road, Puri, Palasa, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, Kakinada, Rajahmundry, Vijayawada, was opened for traffic between 1893 to 1896. East Coast Railway brought rail line to Naupada in 1894. The Raja of Paralakhemedi decided to connect his capital with Naupada, which was only 40 kms away. With the government giving sanction in 1898, work began in full earnest. The line was opened to traffic in 1900. This railway line was built at a cost of Rs 7 lakh.

Due to a change in the policy of the British Government, the Bengal Nagpur Railway, popularly known as the B.N.R, took over the northern section of East Coast Railway from Vizianagaram to Cuttack, including the Branch Line of Puri, by 23-01-1902. Accordingly, the working of the PLR was taken over by the Bengal-Nagpur Railway in 1902. In the first few years, the PLR had incurred losses but after 1910, it started making marginal profits and after 1924-25, the profits increased. This motivated the Raja to extend the line to Gunupur in two phases in 1929 and 1931. There were now a total of ten stations between Naupada and Gunupur. Tekkali, Paddasan, Temburu, Ganguvada, Patapatnam, Paralakhemedi, Kashinagar, Lihuri, Bansidhara and Palasingi.

The management of BNR was taken over by the Government of India in October 1944. On 14-04-1952, at the time of the re-grouping of the Indian Railways it became part of the Eastern Railway. The merger of B.N.R. into Eastern Railway, however, did not last long and on 01-08-1955 it was merged with newly constituted South Eastern Railway. During the SER centenary celebrations in 1987, set of four postage stamps were released. One of the stamps featured the PL 691 locomotive.

The standard type of locomotive on PLR was the 20 ton 0-6-4 tank locomotive with small (27 inch diameter) coupled wheels and an axle load of only 4.75 tons. …

The foundation-stone was finally laid for the Naupada-Gunupur gauge conversion work at Naupada on September 27, 2002. With effect from April 1, 2003, PLR became a part of the newly formed East Coast Railway. The line was finally closed for gauge conversion on June 9, 2004.

— VIKAS SINGH, RAIL ENTHUSIAST
Courtesy National Rail Museum

Following is an excerpt from a report in Hindu.

The broad gauge railway line between Naupada and Parlakhemundi, a long-cherished dream of people in parts of Srikakulam and Gajapthi districts, is ready and the mandatory trial run of train on this 40 km new rail track, which was postponed because of election code, will be carried out anytime after April 23.

…

The 40 km. stretch between Naupada and Parlakhemundi is part of gauge conversion project between Naupada and Gunupur covering a total distance of about 90 km.

According to authorities concerned, the trial run would be followed by introduction of departmental trains and heavy duty machines. Then the Commissioner of Railway Safety, an independent authority with headquarters at Kolkata, would issue clearance for running regular passenger trains. The total cost of the project was Rs.168 crores and so far Rs.120 crores had been spent. The remaining work between Parlakhemundi and Gunupur is also progressing well and is likely to be completed soon.

Work on major bridges in this stretch had already been completed. According to authorities, linking work is likely to be completed by June. There is some problem in procuring ballasts for this track. However, authorities are confident of overcoming this.

The Orissa government should push for a passenger train in this line to be included in the new budget.

Following is an excerpt from a report in Hindu.

The Indian Railways on Monday finally spelt out its plan of action to bring the Khurda-Bolangir new broad gauge line, which was sanctioned 13 years ago, back on track here.

Addressing a press conference, Chairman of Railway Board Kalyan Coomar Jena said the Orissa government had been approached to provide land required for the 290-kilometre-long stretch Khurda-Bolangir line free of cost.

Moreover, funds available in the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) with the State should be diverted to take up earthwork needed for laying the new line, Mr. Jena said.

“If the state government responds positively to our idea, the Khurda-Bolangir project would move much faster,” Mr. Jena said.

… The proposed Khurda-Bolangir line is a vital railway link, which would connect coastal Orissa with the western part. Though people had started demanding the railway link more than two decades ago, it was sanctioned in the year 1994-1995.

The projected cost of the project has now reached Rs. 1,000 crore.

The East Coast Railway (ECoR) said 52 per cent of cumulative physical progress had been achieved while work was in progress up to 36 km distance. Till March 2007, only Rs. 67.83 crore had been spent on the project.

The Indian Railways also sought the State government’s cooperation on land acquisition for the Puri-Konark railway link. 

Sharing the progress on the proposed world-class railway station at Bhubaneswar, Mr. Jena said the railway was scouting for suitable land for the project.

He said Chinese expertise had been sought to prepare concept of the station, which would require at least 200 acres of land.

Subsequently, an expression of interest would be floated inviting interested firms to execute the project.

A high-level Chinese railway delegation headed by W.U. Wei, Director of Sino-India Railway Co-operation Working Group along with 12 members had visited the city for conducting a survey for developing a world class station here.

Following is an excerpt from a report in Kalinga Times.

… Jena said the gauge conversion of 90 km Naupada-Gunupur would be completed during the current fiscal.

Following is an excerpt from a report in Hindu.

… gauge conversion of the 90-km-long Nuapada-Gunupur railway is to be finished," said A K Goyal, general manager, East Coast Railway here on Wednesday.

The gauge conversion work was going on very rapidly and it would be completed by the end of March, he said. In 2007-08, the Railway Ministry has provided Rs 25 crore for this project. The ministry has targetted to extend the line up to rayagada in the next phase.

The 118-year-old railway line was established by the then Maharaja of Paralakhemundi, Krushna Chandra Gajapati in 1889 for his personal use. The narrow gauge railway line was handed over to the Railway Ministry in 1949. Since then the people of southern Orissa have been demanding its upgradation.

Apart from the Nuapada-Gunupur line, the ministry has also targeted to complete the doubling of the railway lines in 15.3 km length Khurdha-Delang, a part of the Khurdha-Puri line, 12 km Cuttack-Barang and Titilagarh-Kesinga, a part of the 47-km long Lanjigarh-Titilagarh railway line by the end of march next, goyal said.

The following is from the PIB http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=33421. (Based on this Orissa will fall behind quite a bit: Only 2000kms of new lines
 none of the major new lines in Orissa, such as Khurda-Balangir, will get completed during the 11th plan. The states where the freight corridor will run and the states with a lot of narrow gauge lines will surge forward.)

In order to carry additional freight and passenger traffic in future, Railways have on hand 272 track capacity works, which on completion would add 20,852 kilometers to the Broad Gauge system.  The estimated throwforward cost of these works is approximately Rs. 55,000 crore.

A substantial amount of traffic moves on the High density routes viz. the ones which connect the four metropolitan cities of Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkatta, and the Delhi – Gaulhati route.  Railways have already announced construction of two Dedicated Freight Corridors between JNPT-Tughlakabad (1483 kms) and Sonenagar-Ludhiana, (to be later extended to the deep sea port of Kolkatta) (1279 kms) at a cost of more than Rs. 28,000 crores to give relief to two of the densely saturated routes viz. Delhi-Mumbai and Delhi-Kolkata routes.  In addition, feasibility studies have been ordered on four other corridors – (i) North – South (Delhi-Chennai); (ii) East – West (Mumbair – Kolkotta); (iii) South – East (Vijayawada – Kharagpur ) and (iv) South – South (Chennai – Goa).

In addition, Railway proposes to augment its track capacity in XI Plan by 15,500 kilometers, including 2000 kilometer of new lines, 3500 kilometers of doubling and 10,000 kilometers of gauge conversion.

The revenue earning freight traffic in the XI Five Year Plan period is expected to increase from 728 million tonnes in 2006-07 to 1100 million tonnes in 2011-12.  The corresponding freight output is expected to increase from 475 billion ton kilometers in 2006-07 (prov.) to 707 billion ton kilometers in 2011-12.  In order to cater to the projected freight traffic, it is expected that 62000 wagons would be required during the XI Plan.  Railways will also require to induct 1800 electric and 1800 diesel locomotives for carrying the projected traffic in the XI plan.  In addition to enhance the capacity of the existing diesel and electric locomotive manufacturing units, Railways are also going in for setting up a diesel locomotive factory at Marhowra and electric loco factory at Madhepura which will produce 150 and 120 locos per year respectively.

Since capacity augmentation takes time, Railways have taken immediate steps to enhance the throughput by increasing the carrying capacity of wagons by 6 tonnes on most of the routes and by 8 tonnes on selected routes and also strengthen the track, bridges and allied structures.  In addition, 28 heavy mineral routes with over 6900 route kilometers have been further identified for implementation of 25 tonne Axle load.  Also on selected routes, double stack containers trains have been permitted to further enhance the throughput per train.

Railways also plan to induct wagons of better design, higher capacity, longer life and low on maintenance.

The passenger traffic in the XI Five Year Plan is expected to increase from 6242 million passengers in 2006-07 (RE) to 8400 million in 2011-12.  The correspondence passenger output is expected to increase from 700 billion passenger kilometers to 880 billion passenger kilometers.

In order to cater to this increase in traffic, it is expected that 22500 coaches would be required  during the XI Five Year Plan,  implying a yearly requirement of 4500 coaches.  In order to meet this requirement , the production capacities of the existing units –integral Coach Factory, Prembur  and Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthanla – are being enhanced to 1500 and 1400 coaches per annum respectively from the  present capacity of 1000 coaches per annum each.  Further, a new coach factory is also being planned to be set up at Rai Bareily to bridge the shortfall in requirement and production capacities.

Railways have constructed a total of 4084 kilometers of track in the last three years.  The details are as under :–

This information was given by the Minister of State for Railways Shri R.Velu in written reply to a question in the Lok  Sabha today.

(This is copied from my site on Railway infrastructure in Orissa.)

Most of Orissa’s rail network ( full-orissa-map, map-east-n- north-orissa, map-south-n-west-orissa) is part of the East Coast railway( map1, map2, time-table), and a small portion is part of the South eastern railway( map, plans) of Indian Railways. For trains across India see the Indian Railways Schedule, and for trains across Orissa see the ECOR schedule. Maps from IRFCA are here. India9.com has a list of stations and trains related to Orissa.

Rail network description:

• Howrah(0)… Kharagpur (116) … Lakshannath Rd (178)-Jaleswar (184)-Rajghat halt (191)-Amarda Rd (198)-Basta (203)- N Mayurbhanj Rd (207)-Rupsa Jn (213)-Haldipada (219)-Tikirapal halt (226)-Balasore (231)-Nilgiri Rd (241)- Khantapara (246)-Panpana (251)-Bahanga Bazar (256)-Soro (264)-Sabira (271)-Markona (279)-Ranital (285)- Bhadrak(291) -Baudpur(303)-Kapali Rd(308)-Kenduapada(312) -Manjuri Rd(320)-Dulakhpatna(323)-Baitarani Rd (328)- Korai(335)-Jajpur Keonjar Rd(340) – Jakhapura (348)-Brahmani PH-Jenapur(356)- New Garhmadhupur (362) -Haridaspur(372) -Dhanmandal(377)- Barithengarh(383) – Byree(388)-Sri Jhadeswar(392) – Kapilas Rd (398)- Nergundi(401)- Kendrapara Rd (409)- Cuttack(412) -Kathajori(414)-Gopalpur Balikuda(417)-Barang(424)- Patia(431)- Mancheswar (433)- Vani Vihar (437)- BBSR(440)- Lingaraj temple rd (445)- Retang(452)- Khurda Rd(459)-Argul (465)-Kaipadar Rd (468)- Dhaulimuhan(473)- Tapang(477)-Golabai(482)- Nirakarpur(485)- Bhusandapur(493)-Mukteswar(498)- Kaluparaghat (503) – Kuhuri(509)-Gangadharpur(517)- Solari(523)-Balugaon(530)- Chilika(537)- Khallikot (548)-Rambha(559)-Humma(570)-Ganjam(576)- Chhatrapur Court(584)- Chatrapur(585)- Jagannathpur(597)-Berhampur(606)-Golanthara (617)- Surla Rd(621)-…-Palasa(680)-…- Naupada (705) -…- Vijainagaram(821) -…- Visakhapatnam (882)

(ecor map)

• Haridaspur-Kendrapara-Paradeep (preliminary stage of construction; only few stations are named currently)
• Cuttack(0)-Mattagazpur(7)- Kandarpur(17)- Badakhandita(25)- Raghunathpur(32)- Gorakhnath (45) -Jhankad Sarla Rd(50)- Rahama(60)- Badabandha (73)- Paradeep(83)
• Khurda Rd (0)-Haripur(3)-Motari(8)-Kanas Rd(11)- Delang(15)- Birpurusottampur(22)-Sakhigopal(27)- Janakideipur(33)-Malatipatpur(36)-Puri (44)
• Khurda Rd(0)-Khurda Town(10.8)-Rajsunakhala (44)-Nayagarh(65.6)-Dasapalla(110.25)-Boudh (198)-Sonepur(240.1)-Bhainsapalli(274.9)-Balangir (preliminary stage of construction; only few stations are named currently)
• Sambalpur (0)-Sambalpur Rd(2)-Sambalpur city(7)- Maneswar(15)-Hatibari(28)- Jujomura(39)- Charmal (56)-Rairkhol(71)-Bamur(87)-Saragipali(97)- Handapa (111)- Boinda(118) – Jarapada(133)- Kerejanga(143) – Angul(157)-Talcher Rd (169) – Talcher(175)
• Talcher (0)-Talcher thermal(4)-Budhapank(10)- Meramondali(19)-Naya Bhagirathipur(28)- Hindol rd (32)-Sadashibpur(42)-Dandimal(46)- Dhenkanal (53)-Shyamcharanpur (58)- Joranda Rd(61)- Rajathagarh(73)- Radhakishorepur (77)- Ghantikhal (83)- Naraj Marthapur(90)-Barang(98)
• Talcher(0)-…-Rajathagara(73)-Gurudijhatia(83) – Charbatia(92)-Salagaon(96)- Nergundi(100) -…- Cuttack(112)-…-Bhubaneswar(140)
• Howrah(0)-…-Kharagpur-(115)…-TATA(249.5)-…- Rajkharswan(291.4)-…-Chakradharpur(312)-…- Bhalulata(392)-Bisra(398.6)-Bondamunda Halt (406.4) – Raurkela (413=X)-Panposh (418.7)- Kalunga(426.3)- Kansbahal (433.3)- Rajgangpur (443)-Sonakhan(450) -Sagra(456.7)- Garpos (461)-Tangarmunda (469)- Bamra(477.5)- Dharuadihi(487.2)-Bagdihi(493.4)- Panpali(499.6)- Dhutra(505.5) –Jharsuguda Jn(514.2)– Ib(523.1)- Brajrajnagar(525.8)-Belpahar(534.9)- Himgiri(548.2)- Daghora(555.3)-…-Raigarh(585.7)-…- Bilaspur(718) -…- Raipur(828.6)
• Badampahar(0)-Chhanua PH(9)- Kuladiha(16)- Rairangpur(24.5)-Aunlakhor(34)-Bahalda Rd(47)- Haludpukur(67.5)-Tata(89)
• Gurumahishasini(0)-Aunlakhor(9)
• Raurkela(0)- Quarry (8) – Kuarmunda (18)- Biramitrapur (27)
• Titilagarh(0)-Sikir(11)-Badmal(20)-Saintala(29)- Deogaon Rd(47)-Balangir(64)- Balangir Rd(66)- Loisingha(82)- Khaliapali(94) -Dungripali(106)- Barpali(121)- Bargarh Rd(140)- Attabira(158) -Godbhaga(166)-Hirakud(175)-Sambalpur(182)- Sambalpur Rd(184)-Sason(196)-Rengali(205)- Lapanga(215)-Brundamal(224)- Jharsuguda(231)
• Visakhapatnam(0)-..-Shimiliguda(121)-Araku(132)- Gorapur(142)-Darliput(155)- Padua(165)-Bheja(175)- Machhakund Rd(186)- Paliba(199)- Suku(206)- Koraput(217)- Manabar (224)- Jarati(234)- Maligura (245) – Chhatriput (252) –Jeypore(259)- Dhanapur (266) – …Jagdalpur(323) -…Kirandul(473)
• Koraput (0)-Damnjodi(19)- Kakrigumma (46) – Lakshmipur Rd (62) – Tikiri (83)-Rauli(96)- Lelligumma (113) -Bhalumaska (129)-Kautguda(155)- Singhapur Rd (164) – Rayagada (173)
• Raipur (0)-…-Khariar Rd(106)-Nawapara Rd (117)- Lakhna(131)- Harishankar Rd(147)-Truekela Rd(156)-Kantamanji(170)-Muribahal(185) – Rahenbata (196) – Titlagarh(203)- Kesigna(216) -Kandel Rd(225) – Rupra Rd(232)- Norla Rd(239)- Lanjigarh Rd(250)- Ambodola(264)- Doikallu(276) -Muniguda(289)-Bissam Cuttack (306)- Therubali (324)-Singapur Rd9(333)- Raygada (343) -Ladda (351)-…-Bobbili(414)-… –Vijainagaram(467)
• Rupsa Jn (0)-Thakurtota(6)-Jugpur(12)- Jogal(18)- Betonoti(24)-Krishna Ch Pur (35)-Jamsole(42)- Baripada (52)
• Baripada (0)-Baghra Rd(3)- Bhanjapur(4)- Kuchai(12) -Buramara(24)-Rajalukan(36)-Bangriposi (37.4) (narrow gauge, being converted)
• Balasore (0)-Nilgiri (21) (narrow gauge, used for transporting granite; defunct now?): [1]
• Naupada(0)-Tekkali(7)-Peddasana(13)-Temburu(17)- Ganguvada(25)-Patapatnam(34)- Parlakimidi (40)- Sitapuram(52)-Kashinagar(65)-Lihuri(71)- Bansidhara (79)-Palasingi(84)- Gunupur(90) (narrow gauge; being converted; Gunupur to be connected to Therubali)
• Jakhapura(0)-Sukinda Rd(8)-Baghupal(16)- Tomka(24)-Daitari(33). Tomka(0)-Tangiriapal(10)-Sagadapeta(26)-Chilikdara (39)- Harichandanpur(49)-Nilakantheswar(59)- Sitabanji(70)- Basantpur(83)-Naranpur(92)- Keonjhargarh(98)-Goaldih(109)- Porjanpur(116)- Nayagarh(130)– Jaroli(146)-Bansapani(155)-Murg Mahadev Rd(164)-Deojhar(167)-Padapahar (183)- Dangoaposi(188)-Maluka(198)-Kendposi(208)- Talaburu(217)-Jhinkpani(226)-Singhpokharia(235) –Chaibasa(242)-Pandrasali(250)-Rajkharswan(262) (between Chakradharpur and Tata) … Tata (304)
• Bolanikhadan(0)-Barabil(6)-Bara jamda(16)- Noamundi (30)-Padapahar(33)
• Gua(0)-Bara jamda(8)
• Kiriburu(0)-Karampada(6)-Tupadih(11.5)-Rangra(20)- Rakshi(30)- Bimlagarh(40)-Patasahi(48)-Chandiposh (55)- Champajharan(61)-Lathikata(70.6)-Dumetra (80)- Bondamunda Halt(86.5)
• Bondmunda Halt-Bangurkoel(0)-Bispur(7)- Nawagaon (13)- Orga(20)-…-Hatia(148); Nawagaon-Punrapani
• Barsuan(0)-Gognaposh(14.5)-Bimlagarh(21)

Current railway connectivity and Indian railway websites:

• 2007 Bhubaneswar connectivity (draft): Bhubaneswar/Cuttack/Puri/KhurdaRd (on a map)(7,7a,29,29a,30,30a,32,32a,34,34a,40,78)

• 2007 Rest of Orissa connectivity (draft): Rourkela (5,5a,32,32a,34,34a,36,36a,40,78), Sambalpur (5,5a,32,32a,34,34a,40,78), Berhampur/Chhatrapur (7,7a,29,29a,30,30a,34,34a,40), Titlagarh (34,34a,40,42,42a), Rayagada (34,34a,40,42,42a), Balasore/Bhadrakh/Jajpur Keonjhar Rd (7,7a,29,29a,30,30a,32,32a,40), Dhenkanal/Anugul/Talcher (78), Jharsuguda (5,5a,32,32a,34,34a,36,36a, 40,78), Barbil (87,87a), Bolangir/BaragarhRd (34,34a,40), Koraput (40), Baripada (32,32a), Rupsa, Keonjhargarh, Gunupur/Parlakimidi.
• Time Table: Howrah-Rkl-Mumbai(5), Mumbai-Rkl-Howrah(5a), Howrah-BBSR/Puri-Chennai(7), Chennai-BBSR/Puri-Howrah(7a), Guwahati-BBSR-B’lore/Kerala(29), B’lore/Kerala-BBSR-Guwahati(29a), Howrah-BBSR-Hyderabad(30), Hyderabad-BBSR-Howrah(30a), Puri-Delhi(32), Delhi-Puri(32a), Puri-Okha(34), Okha-Puri(34a), Dhanbad-Chennai-Dhanbad(40), Puri-Sambalpur-Puri(78), Vizag-Rayagada-Delhi(42), Delhi-Rayagada-Vizag(42a), Barbil-Howrah(87), Howrah-Barbil (87a), Patna/Danapur-RKl-Bilaspur/Durg(36a), Bilaspur/Durg-RKL-Patna/Danapur(36).
• Orissa rail history
• List of trains passing through various Orissa stations
• Seven days availability of trains leaving Bhubaneswar
• Seven days availability of trains leaving Cuttack
• Seven days availability of trains leaving Puri
• Earliest dates on which reservations are available from Puri
• Train running (late/in time/etc.) status page (by train #)
• Train departure by station name
• Trains/Fare/Reservation Availability Status Between Important Stations — Editor’s comment July 30 2005: There is a list of about 150 stations there, but the list only includes two stations in Orissa, Bhubaneswar and Rourkela. They should atleast add Puri, Khurda Rd, Cuttack and Sambalpur to that list. Moreover, Khurda Road should be considered to be in Bhubaneswar area and trains that skip Bhubaneswar but pass through Khurda Road should show up when queries about Bhubaneswar are asked.
• Trainfinder between two stations
• Train reservations
• Coach positions: Southern railway
• IR time tables: Official Dec 2006 TAAG (Trains at a glance) site; a more organized Dec 2006 TAAG site.
  • 2006 Dec-2007 July ECOR time table
  • 2004-2005 ECOR time table: Vizag-Bhadrakh, Bhadrakh-Vizag, Vizag-Kirandul-Vizag, Titlagarh-Jharsuguda, Jharsuguda-Titlagarh, Rayagada-Raipur, Raipur-Rayagada, Vijainagaram-Titlagarh, Titlagarh-Vijainagaram, Talcher-Sambalpur, Sambalpur-Talcher, KhurdaRd-Angul, Angul-KhurdaRd, Puri-KhurdaRd, KhurdaRd-Puri, Raygada-Koraput, Cuttack-Paradeep–Nuapada-Gunupur, Vijaywada-Vizag, Vizag-Vijaywada, Bhadrakh-Howrah, Howrah-Bhadrakh.

Railway budgets:

• Plans in the 2007 budget
  • New Trains:
    • Bhubaneswar-Rameswaram Express (weekly) after gauge conversion;
    • Bhubaneswar-Ranchi Garib Rath (tri-weekly) [most likely to follow the route Ranchi-MuriJn-ChandilJn-KandraJn-SiniJn-Chaibasa- Dangoaposi-PadapaharJn-Bansapani-Kenojhargarh- Tomka-SukindaRd-Jakhapura-Cuttack-Bhubaneswar]
  • Increase in Frequency: 2843/2844 Puri-Ahmedabad Express via Rayagada (from triweekly to 4 days in a week); 2835/2836 Hatia-Yesvantpur Express (from weekly to biweekly)
  • Doubling works of Bimlagarh-Dumitra (Part), Barbil-Badajamda, Titlagarh-Raipur have been given approval.
  • Survey for doubling: Sambalpur-Talcher; Khurda Road-Puri
  • Budget Numbers
    • New lines (94 crores total as opposed to 271.85 crores in 2006-07): Koraput-Rayagada (2 crores), Talcher-Sambalpur (3 crores), Lanjigarh Rd-Junagarh (12 crores), KhurdRd-Balangir (20 crores), Haridaspur-Paradeep (20 crores), Talcher-Bimlagarh (15 crores)
    • Gauge conversion (60 crores total as opposed to 49.8 crores in 2006-07): Naupada-Gunupur (25 crores), Rupsa-Bangiriposi ( 35 crores)
    • Doubling (293 crores as opposed to 293.16 crores in 2006-07): Talcher-Cuttack-Paradeep with 2nd bridge on Mahanadi and Birupa (64 crores), Cuttack-Barang (55 crores), Barang-Khurda Rd 3rd line (88 crores), Rajathagarh-Barang (86 crores). [Sambada lists some more doubling projects that is not listed in the pink book (ecor, se). Sambada claims the total 2007-08 budget for doubling to be 449.5 crores.]
• Plans in the 2006 budget
  • New Trains: Bhubaneswar-Baripada Express (tri-weekly) ; Howrah-Puri Express(bi-weekly) [done]; Bhubaneswar-Pondicherry Express(weekly) [feb14]; Tatanagar – Yesvantpur Express via Rourkela- Sambalpur- Rayagada(weekly) [done]; Howrah-Mumbai Express (weekly)
  • Extension of trains: 7227/7228 Vasco-Vijayawada Express (4 days a week) to Howrah [done]; 8507/8508 Visakhapatnam-Nizamuddin Hirakud Express to Amritsar; 8305/8306 Raipur-Sambalpur Express to Bhubaneswar [done]; 8467/8468 Puri-Jaipur Express to Jodhpur [done]; 8563/8564 Bangalore-Visakhapatnam Prashanti Express to Bhubaneswar; 211/212 Puri-Sambalpur Passenger to Rourkela
  • Increase in Frequency: 5625/5626 Bangalore- Guwahati Express from bi-weekly to tri-weekly [done]
  • In 2006-07, Railways propose to complete over 550 kms of New Lines. The sections include : Keonjhar-Daitari of Banspani-Daitari. With the completion of the above sections, the connection of Jakhapura (near Jajpur Road, between Bhubaneswar and Jajpur Rd) to Daitari, Keonjhar, Bansapani, to Rajkharsuan (between Chakradharpur and Tata) will be complete. See map. This will create alternate paths from Bhubaneswar to Rourkela (not much shorter, if any, than BBSR-Sambalpur-RKL though), and Bhubaneswar to Tata (a bit shorter than BBSR-KGP-Tata).
  • Completion of doubling of Titlagarh-Kesinga, Sambalpur-Sarala and Jharsuguda bye-pass in Orissa. Doubling of Padapahar-Banspani have also been included in the budget. In addition, works of doubling of Sambalpur-Titlagarh have been included in the Budget. Other doubling plans include Koraput-Kirandul, Kottavalasa-Koraput, and Bhadrak-Nergundi 3rd line.
  • Budget numbers: Total of Rs 653.9 crore for Orissa in 2006-07 ( against a request of 800 crores, and 279.39 crore more than allotted in 2005-06.): Rs 19 crore for the Lanjigarha Rd – Bhawanipatna – Junagarh, Rs 23 crore for the Khurda Rd- Balangir, Rs 155.58 crore Daitari-Keonjhar-Banspani, Rs 44 crore for Haridaspur-Paradip, Rs 20 crore for Angul-Duburi- Sukinda Road, and Rs 10 crore for Talcher-Bimalgarh. Rs 15.89 crore has been sanctioned for gauge conversion of Rupsa-Bangiriposi (Simlipal), Rs 34 crore for gauge conversion of Nuapada-Parlakimidi-Gunpur project, and Rs 293.16 crore for 12 doubling projects for 2006-07 as against Rs 170 crore for 2005-06.
  • 2006-07 Budget details at: Pink Book: ECOR details, SER details; Green Book: ECOR, SER.
• Past Railway budgets: 1996-97, 1997-98, 1998-99, 1999-2000, 2000-01, 2001-02, 2002-03, 2003-04, 2004-05, 2005-06.
• Railway proj ects in Orissa — 2004 budgetary provisions
• Requests from Orissa legislator’s in Loksabha debates: [2005: Chandra Sekhar Sahu, Braja Kishore Tripathy, Ananta Nayak, Bikram Keshari Deo, B. Mahtab, Arjun Sethi, Brahmananda Panda, Kharabela Swain, Sangeeta Kumari Singh Deo, Mohan Jena]
• A twelve year railway budget plan for new lines and gauge conversion in Orissa: [April,1-2006]

New lines, gauge conversions, doublings: [Hindu-April05]

• Hurdles: 2006-07 ECOR allocation, 2006-07 SER allocation, Baripada-Bangiriposi problem (see page 8-9 of 2006-may-CAG report)
• New lines in progress or recently completed plus wish list for immediate consideration
  • Daitari-Banspani 155 km, estimated cost Rs 590 corres, 78% complete by May 2004. [map]
  • Lanjigarh-Bhawanipatna-Junagarh 55.67 km, Rs 120 crore, 15% complete on May 2004. [map] Editors note: Highest priority should be to have the following link: Malkangiri (southwestern tip of Orissa) to Jeypore (next to Koraput) to Nabarangpur to Junagarh-Bhawanipatna-Lanjigarh (in Kalahandi district), where Lanjigarh is just south of Titlagarh. (This will bring railways to the districts of Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Kalahandi in KBK.)
  • Haridaspur-Paradip 82 km, Rs 340 crore, 4.25% complete but on fast track. [map], [Statesman:March2006]
  • Sukinda Road-Angul 90 km, Rs 415 crore, 0.2% complete on May 2004, but on fast track. (Sukinda Rd is in between Jajpur Road and Daitari) [map].
  • Talcher-Bimlagarh (Total: 154 km, Rs 727 crore) [map] [ This will make the shortest distance between BBSR to Rourkela to 308 kms: BBSR-Talcher (114) + Talcher-Bimlagarh(154) + Bimlagarh-Rourkela(40). Other alternate paths between BBSR-Rourkela are: BBSR-KGP-Rourkela (440-115+412-115= 325+ 297=622); BBSR-Talcher-Sambalpur-Rourkela (440); BBSR-Jakhapura-Daitari-Bansapani-Rajkharswan- Rourkela (92+38+155+108+122=515); BBSR-Bansapani-Padapahar-Bolanikhadan-?- Kiriburu-Bondamunda-Rourkela (285+28+32+ 15+85+7=452). ]
  • Khurda Road-Bolangir 290 km, Rs 700 crore, 6% (survey) complete by May 2004. [map]
  • Gunupur-Therubali: [map]
  • Bangriposi-Gurumahishasini: see mention in 2005 budget — section 91.III.11 (connecting Gurumahishasini to Bangiriposi and then having broad gauge till Rupsa gives the path TATA-Baripada-Rupsa; [an alternate demand by people]); [SER plan], [SER plan2], [map]
  • Chakulia-Buramara: [SER plan], [SER plan2], [people’s demand]
  • Jaleswar-Digha: [SER plan], [SER plan2]
  • Wishlist: Kiriburu-Bolanikhadan (about 10 kms) — will result in the path Rourkela-Bimlagarh-Kiriburu- Barbil-Bansapani-Jakhapura-Cuttack- Bhubaneswar: [google-image], [map].
  • Wishlist: Naraj-Khordha-Khurda-Road line as part of a circular rail for the Bhubaneswar area, Khordha-KhurdaRd should be constructed immediately as part of the KhurdaRd-Balangir line, then complete the Khorda-Naraj part and then make Khorda another reliever station for Bhubaneswar. Then there should be a train running between Cuttack-Barang-Bhubaneswar- Khurda Rd-Khordha-Naraj-Barang at frequent intervals.
  • Recently completed or planned to be completed: Koraput-Raygada (Dec 1995), Talcher-Sambalpur (Aug 1998), Rupsa-Baripada (Sept 2005), Daitari-Bansapani (scheduled – 2006/07).
• Gauge Conversion:
  • Naupada-Gunupur, 90 km, Rs 89 crore, just starting. [map].
  • Rupsa-Bangiriposi: Rupsa-Baripada is already done (see item 108 2005 budget; [trial-run]) [map]; [Rupsa-Baripada DMU from Sept’19 05]
• Doubling projects:
  • 32-km Raghunathpur-Cuttack stretch on the Cuttack-Paradip section
  • 24-km stretches between Norla Road and Lanjigarh Road and between Titlagarh and Kesinga on the Titlagarh-Lanjigarh section on the Raipur-Vizag route
  • Sambalpur-Rengali (22.7 km)
  • Rajathgarh-Barang (31.5 km)
  • Khurda Road-Puri (15.3 km)
  • Cuttack-Barang (11.7 km)
  • Khurda Road-Barang (35 km)
• New lines under consideration: surveying stage (Baragarh-NawaparaRd, Gunupur-Therubali and Puri-Konark survey are mentioned in 91.II.5, 91.II.1 and 91.II.3 of 2005 budget):
  • Jeypore-Kottameta new BG rail link, 128 kms
  • Puri-Konark new BG rail link, 30 kms
  • Phulbani-Berhampur new BG line, 175 kms
  • Talcher/Hindol Road -Gopalpur/Berhampur new BG rail link, 245 ms
  • Talcher-Bimlagarh new BG rail link, 130 kms
  • Bargarh-Nawapara Road new BG link via Padampur, 120 kms
  • Jeypore-Nawarangpur new BG line, 45 kms (and then extended to Junagarh)
  • Jeypur-Malkangiri
  • Editor’s wish list: Therubali-Angul-Keonjhar-Badampahar (will result in the paths Jeypore-Koraput-Rayagada- Therubali-Angul-BBSR, Jeypore-Koraput-Rayagada- Therubali-Angul-Sukinda-Jajpur Rd-Balasore- Howrah, Kirandul-Jeypore- Koraput- Rayagada- Therubali- Angul-Keonjhar-Bansapani-Ranchi, Jeypore – Koraput-Rayagada-Therubali-Angul- Keonjhar -Badam Pahar-Jamshedpur)
  • Editor’s wish list: Jajpur Rd- Jajpur-Aradi- Chandbali- Dhamara port
  • Other links in Orissa govt’s list: Raygada-Gopalpur, Jaleshwar-Digha, Keonjhar-Badampahar.

Future Plans:

• Rail Traffic Projections: [NewIndPress:Aug9-05]
• A twelve year railway budget plan for new lines and gauge conversion in Orissa: [April,1-2006]
  • Orissa CM demands more fund and trains in rail budget of 2006
• New trains, extension and increased frequencies: wish list for 2007 and beyond
  • Goal: Better connectivity between BBSR and Rourkela.
    • Introduce a BBSR-Rourkela half day Intercity train and/or extend BBSR-Sambalpur train to Rourkela. [BBSR-Rourkela distance is Rourkela-Jharsuguda (102) + Jharsuguda-Sambalpur (49)+ Sambalpur-Talcher(175) + Talcher-Barang(98) + Barang-BBSR (16) = 440km] So a BBSR-Howrah (437 km) Janashtabdi/Dhauli kind of timing, or the BBSR-Vijag (443km) Intercity timing would be ok. For example: If it starts from BBSR at 6 AM then using the 8413 timing it can reach Sambalpur by 11 AM and can reach Rourkela by 1:40 PM. Then it can leave Rourkela by 2:30 PM and reach BBSR by 10:10 PM. If this is successful then have another train with the opposite timing. I.e., leaving Rourkela at 6 AM reaching BBSR at 1:40 PM and leaving BBSR at 2:30 PM and reaching Rourkela at 10:10 PM. Extend Puri-Sambalpur and Rayagada-Sambalpur expresses to Jharsuguda so that passengers from BBSR/Puri/CTC can connect to many of the trains that go west (to Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad etc.) from Jharsuguda.
  • Goal: More frequency between BBSR and Mumbai: Do one or more of the following.
    • Easiest: Extend Visakha-Express to Mumbai.
    • Next: Extend the newly extended 8305/8306 Raipur-Bhubaneswar express to Mumbai (via Nagpur) [Alternatively extend this train to Bhopal via Nagpur]
    • Extend Vidarbha or Sevagram Express (between Mumbai and Nagpur) to Bhubaneswar (via Raipur-Titlagarh-Bargarh-Sambalpur-Dhenkanal) [Also increases connectivity to Nagpur]
    • Increase frequency of weekly 2145/2146 BBSR-Mumbai express(so that twice a week it goes in the current route via Anugul-Sambalpur, twice a week it goes via Vijainagaram-Rayagada- Titlagarh- Raipur, and thrice a week via Vizag-Koraput- Rayagada-Raipur); [Similar to the trains connecting Puri-BBSR to ADI.]
  • Goal: Increase connectivity between Western Orissa and Allahbad-Delhi ( Public demand):
    • Extend 8601 Hatia Jammu Tawi express (now via Allahbad and Delhi) to Sambalpur (via Rourkela) first and may be after a year all the way till Bhubaneswar
    • Extend 2817/8603 Hatia-Delhi Samjhouta Express (via Allahbad) to Sambalpur (via Rourkela).
    • Increase frequency of Vizag-Delhi(now planned to be extended to Amritsar) express and on the new days let it take the route of Vizag-Koraput-Rayagada-Titilagarh-Balangir- Sambalpur and then follow the rest of the schedule.
  • Increase frequency of BBSR Rajdhani (perhaps once or twice plying through Sambalpur, once plying through Keonjhar, and going beyond BBSR to Viskhapatnam);
  • Goal: Better connection between western Orissa and South India, especially Hyderabad ( Public demand) [There are direct trains from Rourkela/Sambalpur to Bhubaneswar, Howrah, Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore, but none to Hyderabad currently]:
    • Extend 6512 Bilaspur-Bangalore Express (via Hyderabad) to Rourkela or via Rourkela to Hatia/Ranchi or Tata.
    • Extend Vizag-Hyderabad Godavari express to Rourkela.
    • Introduce a Tata-Hyderabad Express going through Rourkela. [This should be happening soon, as Tata has excellent connections to all parts of India except to Hyderabad. May be ECOR can chip in towards this.] (Note in 2006 budget a new weekly Tata- Bangalore express is proposed. This may be routed through Hyderabad.)
  • Have a new Rayagada-Raipur (343 kms) day time express and Balangir-Vijainagaram (336 km) day-time express.
  • Increase frequency of weekly BBSR-Bangalore express and extend it to Mysore;
  • A Bhopal-Nagpur-BBSR-Puri train. (Bhopal and Nagpur are very close to Orissa but are not properly connected to BBSR by Rail.)
  • Extend Dhanbad-Tata Subarnreka express to Bhubaneswar.
  • Extend 8102 Muri express (Tata/Hatia-Jammu Tawi) to Bhubaneswar via Keonjhar (on the Hatia part) and Bhubaneswar via Kharagpur and Balasore on the Tata part.
  • A weekly Puri-Bhubaneswar-Sambalpur-Jabalpur-Bhopal-Kandla express
  • Extend Puri-Jodhpur express to Jaisalmer
  • A weekly Puri-Jaipur-Bikaner express
  • A weekly BBSR-Chennai-Tuticorn express
  • A weekly BBSR-Chennai-Cape express
  • A weekly BBSR-Chennai-Trivendrum express
  • A weekly BBSR-Chennai-Mangalore-Calicut express.
  • Once Daitari-Bansapani line is completed: a Tata-Puri passenger as well as a BBSR-TATA Intercity express via Keonjhar. [BBSR-Tata distance via Keonjhar will be about 421Kms: BBSR-Jakhapura (92) + Jakhapura -Tomka(24) + Tomka-Bansapani(155)+ Bansapani- Rajkharswan(108) + Rajkharswan-Tata(42)] Just for reference: BBSR-KGP-Tata = (440-115) + (249-115) = 325+134 = 459 kms.
  • Once Daitari-Bansapani line is completed, run one of the BBSR-SiniJn-Delhi train via Keonjhar on some of the days. (BBSR-Kenojhar-Sini = 410 kms while BBSR-Tata-Sini=486 kms)
  • a daily North Orissa Express train between Baripada and Puri. (in 2006-07 plan there is a thrice daily Baripada-BBSR train. This train is operational now.)
  • extend one of the trains to Delhi to beyond say Chandigarh/Jammu
  • a daily train between Baripada and Sambalpur;
  • a daily train between Rourkela and Berhampur;
  • a daily train between Paradeep and Berhampur;
  • extend 8447/8448 BBSR-Koraput express upto Jeypur;
  • increase frequency of 5639/5640 weekly Puri – Guwahati express;
  • once the line between Howrah-BBSR is completely electrified [done Dec 1 05] an almost non-stop twice a day, 4 hrs each way train between Howrah-BBSR;
  • Extend Konark express to start from Baripada as well as 2145/2146 BBSR-Mumbai express to start from Baripada. [There are direct trains from Balasore to BBSR, Howrah, Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, but none to Mumbai. In general all train going west that start from BBSR should be extended to Balasore];
  • make a reliever station to Bhubaneswar with express halts at Patia. It is 1 km to the right of Magnetic Square in this map, and 2 km to the top of Patia square in this map. Note that this station is 3 km from Infocity, 1 km from KIIT, 2 km from Silicon, 3.5 km from Trident, 2 km from Koustuv, 2 km from College of Engg, 2 km from CIPET, 5 km from Fortune tower, etc.
• People’s demand: [Pioneer July’05: Extension of Raipur-Sambalpur intercity express to Bhubaneswar instead of Sambalpur [in 2006-07 plan], completion of Khurda-Balangir Railway Line, extension of Bhubaneswar -Sambalpur intercity express to Titilagarh instead of Sambalpur]
• Orissa integration plan (July 2005):
  • Now: lots of trains in the route Howrah- Kharagpur -Balasore-BBSR-Berhampur- Palasa-Vizag and Howrah-Rourkela-Mumbai; and many trains in the line Sambalpur-Dhenkanal-Bhubaneswar.
  • in 5 years: 2 fast express trains daily between: Koraput-Raygada-Gunupur-BBSR, Tata-Baripada- Rupsa-BBSR, Rourkela-Bansapani-BBSR, Chakradharpur-Keonjhargarh-Bhubaneswar; every two hours during the day trains between Puri-BBSR, Paradeep-BBSR, Berhempur-BBSR, Dhenkanal-BBSR, Bhadrakh-BBSR
  • in 10 years: 2 express trains daily between Junagarh-Bhawanipatna-LanjigarhRd-Titlagarh- Balangir-Phulbani-BBSR, 1 express train daily in the route Rourkela-Bimlagarh-Talcher-BBSR

Rail freight corridor: [TOI-Oct20-05] RVNL (Rail Vikas Nigam Limited) : projects, public notices

• Orissa related projects: 11:Kharagpur-BBSR electrification, 12:BBSR-Kottavasla electrification, 14:Talcher-Paradeep doubling with new bridges on Mahanadi and Birupa, 15:Daitari-Bansapani-Jakhapura new line and electrification, 19:Angul-Sukinda new line, 20:Jakhapura-Haridaspur 3rd line, 26:Rajathagara-Barang doubling, 27: Cuttack-Barang doubling, 28: KhurdaRd-Barang 3rd line, 43:Angul-Sukinda electrification, 44:Haridaspur-Paradeep newline (11 out of 48 projects on March 16 2007 were in Orissa)
• Orissa related public notices: Rajathagara-Barang doubling resettlement plan (rehabilitation plan), Cuttack-Barang doubling resettlement plan (rehabilitation plan), Barang-KhurdaRd resettlement plan.