Jharsuguda–Vizianagaram line

The Jharsuguda–Vizianagaram line is a railway line in eastern India. It connects Jharsuguda,516 km (321 mi) from Howrah on the Howrah–Nagpur–Mumbai line, and Titlagarh, which in turn is connected with Vizianagaram, 820 km (510 mi) from Howrah on the Howrah–Chennai main line, and Raipur Junction, 830 km (516 mi) from Howrah on the Howrah–Nagpur–Mumbai line. There are several branch lines, like the 176 km (109 mi) line connecting Rayagada with Koraput on the Kothavalasa–Kirandul line. The line traverses Western Odisha and connects the Howrah–Nagpur–Mumbai line with the Howrah–Chennai main line. It covers small portions of Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh.

Jharsuguda–Vizianagaram line
Titilagarh railway station is an important junction on Jharsuguda–Vizianagaram line
Overview
StatusOperational
OwnerIndian Railways
LocaleOdisha, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh
Termini
Stations67 nos. 9 nos Big Junction stations at Raipur, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Balangir, Titlagarh, Lanjigarh, Rayagada, Bobbilli & Vizianagaram.
Service
ServicesFully Double Electrified line from Vizianagaram to Titlagarh section & in parts in Raipur-Titlagarh-Sambalpur section. Double line construction going in Raipur-Titlagarh-Sambalpur section.
Operator(s)East Coast Railway
History
Opened1931 from Vizianagaram to Raipur; 1961 from Titlagarh to Jharsuguda.
Technical
Track lengthJharsuguda-Titlagarh: 231 km (144 mi)
Titlagarh–Vizianagaram: 266 km (165 mi)
Titlagarh–Raipur: 203 km (126 mi)
Rayagada–Koraput: 176 km (109 mi)
Jharsuguda-Vizianagaram(end to end): 448 km (278 mi)
Track gauge5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) broad gauge
ElectrificationYes
Operating speed130 km/h
Route map

km
on Tatanagar–Bilaspur section
of Howrah–Nagpur–Mumbai line
0
Jharsuguda
2
Jharsuguda Road
7
Brundamal
Vedanta Indipendent Power Plant
Vedanta Aluminium Plant
Bhenden River
Bhushan Steel Thelokoi Plant
Aditya Aluminium Plant of Hindalco
15
Lapganga
SH 10
26
Rengali
SH 10
Sason River Canal
35
Sason
41
Sarla Junction
45
Sambalpur City
NH53-IN.svg NH 53
Malti Jore River
54
Maneswar
63
Hatibari
NH55-IN.svg NH 55
78
Jujomura
Harihara Jora River
95
Charmal
Surubali River
Surubali River
110
Rairakhol
126
Bamur
136
Saragipali
150
Handapa
SH 62
157
Boinda
NH55-IN.svg NH 55
172
Jarapada
182
Kerejanga
SH 63
196
Angul
and Angul Electric loco shed
Kalinga Power Station
NALCO Smelter and Power Plant Complex
208
Talcher Road
Talcher Super Thermal Power Station of NTPC
to Talcher–Bimalgarh line
Lingaraj Open Cast Project of Talcher Coalfield
Bharatpur Open Cast Mine of Talcher Coalfield
214
Talcher
Talcher Thermal Power Station of NTPC
Talcher Thermal
NH149-IN.svg NH 149
215
Burhapanka
GMR Kamalanga Energy Limited
Plant of Bhushan Steel
222
Meramandali
232
Nayabhagirathipur PH
236
Hindol Road
240
Mahadia PH
245
Sadashibapur
249
Dandi Mal
256
Dhenkanal
Raipur 0
to Dhenkanal–Cuttack line
on Bilaspur–Nagpur section
NH53-IN.svg NH 53
SH 10
Raipur Diesel Loco Shed
47
Sambalpur Road
Raipur Container Depot
49
Sambalpur Junction
Raipur R V Block Hut 2
Hindalco Hirakud Aluminium Plant
Mahanadi Rail Bridge
on Mahanadi River
NH130B-IN.svg NH 130B
Mahanadi Reservoir
NH53-IN.svg NH 53
56
Hirakud
Mandir Hasaud 16
NH53-IN.svg NH 53
66
Godbhaga
FCI Warehouses
Jhaun River
to Kendri–Dhamtari branch line
73
Attabira
79
Deobahal
Naya Raipur 20 and
Danta River
CONCOR Siding Depot
NH53-IN.svg NH 53
Lakholi 29
Dungari Limestone Mines
Rudri Barrage Left Canal
ACC Bargarh Cement Works
Arang Mahanadi 36
Mahanadi River
91
Bargarh Road
Belsonda 45
Jira River
NH353-IN.svg NH 353
SH 55
Mahasamund 54
110
Barpalli
Arand 62
Rani River
NH353-IN.svg NH 353
125
Dungripali
Bhimkhoj 73
Ong River
Baghbahra 84
137
Khaliapali
Komakhan 95
149
Loisingha
Khemkhan Road
Sukhtel River
Jonk River on
Chhattisgarh
Odisha
NH53-IN.svg NH 53
NH353-IN.svg NH 353
165
Balangir Road
to Khurda Road–Bolangir line
Khairar Road 105
167
Balangir
SH 3
Nirbruti River
Nawapada Road 117
185
Deogan Road
Lakhna 131
Songad River
Harishanker Road 146
NH26-IN.svg NH 26
Turekala Road 156
202
Saintala
Kantabanji 170
Lanth River
SH 42
211
Badmal
Muribahal 185
221
Sikir
Rahenbata 195
NH59-IN.svg NH 59
203/231
Titlagarh
Tel River
244
Kesinga
252
Kandel Road
260
Rupra Road
Sandul River
SH 6A
267
Norla Road
on Kothavalasa–Kirandul line
0
Junagarh Road
Koraput 0
Sagda River
NH26-IN.svg NH 26
12
Kurtukhamar PH
Dumuriput 11
SH 16
Damanjodi 19
23
Bhawanipatna
Aluminium Plant of NALCO
NH26-IN.svg NH 26
Baiguda 33
MSH 118
NH326-IN.svg NH 326
36
Deypur PH
Kakirigumma 46
SH 6A
NH326-IN.svg NH 326
45
Ramchandrapur PH
NH326-IN.svg NH 326
NH326-IN.svg NH 326
54/278
Lanjigarh Road
Laxmipur Road 61
291
Ambodala
Singaram 75
Vamsadhara River
Tikiri 83
303
Doikallu
SH 44
SH 6
Rauli 95
317
Muniguda
Leligumma 112
SH 5
Raygada Kashipur Range
328
Sansartali
Bhalumaska 129
334
Bissamcuttack
Sikarpai 139
SH 5
SH 5
Badipadi-Kudari Tunnels
353
Therubali
Nagavali River
Keutguda 154
SH 45
SH 45
164/362
Singapur Road
Paper Mill of J. K. Organisation
371
Rayagada
NH326-IN.svg NH 326
379
Ladda
386
Jimidipeta
Odisha
Andhra Pradesh
Border
396
Kuneru
405
Gumada
Champavati River
SH 4
SH 4
SH 4
417
Parvatipuram Town
SH 1
418
Parvatipuram
422
Narsipuram Halt
431
Sitanagaram
SH 4
Suvarnamukhi River
442/0
Bobbili
Narayanappavalssa Halt 6
454
Donkinavalasa
Rompalle 10
464
Komatipalli
Parannavalasa 11
SH 127
SH 100
NH26-IN.svg NH 26
Salur 17
474
Gajapatinagaram
SH 133
Champavathi River
480
Garudubilli
485
Gotlam
NH26-IN.svg NH 26
Vizianagaram
on Khurda Road–Visakhapatnam section
of Howrah–Chennai main line
Sources: Google maps,
India Rail Info (58215),[1]
India Rail Info (58528),[2]
, Railway Reservation,[3]
India Rail Info (58131)[4]

Geography

The Jharsaguda–Titlagarh line starts from Jharsuguda, at the north western end of Odisha, on the Tatanagar–Bilaspur section of Howrah–Nagpur–Mumbai line, and goes through the Ib river valley.[5] It crosses the Mahanadi River, downstream from Hirakud Dam.[6] The railway track passes through hilly areas interspersed with valleys of the tributaries of the Mahanadi, the important amongst which are the Ong and Tel.[7]

The Raipur–Titlagarh–Vizianagaram line sets off from Raipur, in the fertile Mahanadi valley of Chhattisgarh, on the Howrah–Nagpur–Mumbai line.[8] It passes through the rocky Mahasamund district of central Chhattisgarh before entering Odisha.[9] It enters the plains of Nuapada district in western Odisha,[10] then through the Eastern Ghats in southern Odisha, on to the coastal plains of Andhra Pradesh. It meets the Howrah–Chennai main line at Vizianagaram.[11]

Railway rake with coal at Sambalpur Road

The area covered by this line (including branch lines) is rich in mineral resources.[12] There are two coalfields in the area with high quantum of reserves. According to Geological Survey of India, the Talcher Coalfield has reserves of 38.65 billion tonnes, the highest in India. Ib Valley Coalfield has reserves of 22.3 billion tonnes, the third highest in India.[13]NTPC Limited has two power stations in Odisha, both are on this line – the 3000 MW Talcher Super Thermal Power Station and the 460 MW Talcher Thermal Power Station.[14][15] NTPC has planned two more super thermal power plants of 1600 MW each at Darlipalli in Sundergarh district and Gajamara in Dhenkanal district.[16] Sterlite Energy Ltd. (of the Vedanta group) has a 2400 MW Independent Power Plant at Jharsuguda.[17]

NALCO operates bauxite mines on Panchampatmali Hills in Koraput district of Odisha. It has an alumina refinery at Damanjodi, and a smelter and a rolled products unit at Angul. It has an 8 x 120 MW captive power plant at Angul.[18] Vedanta Aluminium Limited (of the Vedanta group) has an aluminium smelter and a 9x135 MW captive power plant at Jharsuguda. It has an alumina refinery and 3x30 MW captive power plant at Lanjigarh.[19]Hindalco has a smelter and a 368 MW captive power plant at Hirakud.[20]

Bhushan Steel Limited has a presence at Meramandali in Dhenkanal district of Odisha and is currently (as of 2012) implementing a backward integration project to set up an integrated steel plant of 2.3 million tonnes per annum capacity. It has plans to further raise the capacity of the plant.[21] Bhusan Power and Steel Limited has a presence at Thelkoloi in Jharsaguda district of Odisha.[22]

There is an ordnance factory at Badmal in Balangir district.[23] A plant of the engine division of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited is located at Sunabeda, Koraput. It is on the Visakhapatnam-Kirandaul line.[24]

History

The mainline of Bengal Nagpur Railway from Nagpur to Asansol was opened for goods traffic on 1 February 1891. Between 1893 and 1896, 1,288 km (800 mi) of the historical East Coast Railway was opened for traffic. In 1898–99, two important lines of BNR, namely Sini–Kharagpur–Kolaghat and Kharagpur–Cuttack were opened, thereby linking BNR to the lines in southern India.[25]

The Sambalpur—Titalgarh Railway line is approximately Rs 11 crores of aid from the Japanese and 4.2 crores from the US. The foreign exchange Is coming out of the U.S. President Asian economic Development Fund and we are getting 20 million dollars. Japan has promised 8 million dollars. We have been promised all that and the purposes this foreign exchange will be used for rails and other materials.[26] Formerly the line was to go from Sambalpur to Kantangunji. Subsequently, we found that Kantangunji via Bolangir and Titalgarh would be saving 20 miles, and investigations are going on those lines.

The 78 km (48 mi) Vizianagaram–Parvatipuram line was opened in 1908–09 and an 33 km (21 mi) extension to Salur was built in 1913. The 390 km (242 mi) long Parvatipuram–Raipur line was completed in 1931.[25] In 1922, the Talcher Coalfield was linked with the Howrah–Chennai line.[27]

In 1960, Indian Railway took up three projects: the Kottavalasa–Koraput–Jeypore–Kirandaul line (Dandakaranya Project), the Titlagarh–Bolangir–Jharsuguda Project and the Rourkela–Kiriburu Project. All the three projects taken together were popularly known as the DBK Project or the Dandakaranya Bolangir Kiriburu Project.[28] The Sambalpur–Titlagarh line was opened to traffic in 1963.[25]

The Sambalpur–Talcher line was sanctioned in 1983 and was completed in 1998.[29]

The Koraput–Rayagada Rail Link Project was completed on 31 December 1998.[30]

Railway reorganization

Railway line near Gajapatinagaram

The Bengal Nagpur Railway was nationalized in 1944.[31]Eastern Railway was formed on 14 April 1952 with the portion of East Indian Railway Company east of Mughalsarai and the Bengal Nagpur Railway.[32] In 1955, South Eastern Railway was carved out of Eastern Railway. It comprised lines mostly operated by BNR earlier.[32][33] Amongst the new zones started in April 2003 were East Coast Railway and South East Central Railway. Both these railways were carved out of South Eastern Railway.[32] Doubling of Vizianagaram–Gajapatinagaram completed by 31 March 2002.[34] The doubling of Bobbili–Gajapatinagaram completed by 30 June 2004.[35]

New lines

Balangir–Khurda Road project

The 289-kilometre-long (180 mi) railway line, now (as of 2012) under construction from Balangir on the Jharsuguda–Titlagrh line to Khurda Road on the Howrah–Chennai main line, will pass through Subarnapur, Boudh and Nayagarh. It would require construction of 11 tunnels measuring 6.30 km in all, and around 435 bridges including one 660-metre-long (2,165 ft) bridge over the Tel River.[36]

In 1945 this rail link was first surveyed by the Bengal Nagpur Railway, which thought Bhubaneswar's link with some of the most backward undivided districts of Odisha, namely Balangir, Kalahandi, Koraput and Phulbani, to be important. The project actually got off in 1994.[37]

The project was initially hit by delays in land acquisition and even after it got off progress was slow. According to Shivaji Patnaik, the veteran Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader, "The construction for the project started way back in 1994. After 17 years, not even 36 km of line is developed."[36][37][38]

A 175-kilometre-long (109 mi) PhulbaniBerhampur broad-gauge link is planned.[39]

Bimalagarh–Talcher project

Another new line project lagging behind is the 156-kilometre-long (97 mi) line connecting Bimlagarh on the Rourkela–Barsuan branch line and Talcher on the Cuttack–Sambalpur line, sanctioned in 2004–05. This line when complete would reduce the distance between Rourkela and Bhubaneswar from 460 km (via Sambalpur) to 300 km.[40]

Angul–Sukinda Road project

Construction of the 102-kilometre-long (63 mi) railway track linking Angul on the Sambalpur–Talcher–Barang branch line to Sukinda Road on the Padapahar–Jakhapura branch line is expected to be initiated in 2013, after clearing all land-acquisition related problems. This line is being taken up on the public–private partnership (PPP) mode in partnership between Rail Vikas Nigam Limited, Government of Odisha, Jindal Steel and Power and Bhushan Power and Steel. The new railway track will provide connectivity between Talcher Coalfield and the Padapahar–Jakhapura branch line with iron ore mines and upcoming industries. A number of mega steel projects are coming up in this region.[41][42]

Vizianagaram–Titlagarh third line

Vizianagaram–Titlagarh third line project will be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 2,335.68 crore. The third line, which comes under the East Coast Railway is an alternative route to the over-burdened existing line. The length of the railway line will be 264.6 km. The project will be completed within five years i.e. 2021.

Other projects

Several new lines have been planned. These include the 245-kilometre-long (152 mi) Talcher–Hindol Road–Berhampur–Gopalpur line, and the 120-kilometre-long (75 mi) Bargarh–Nawapara Road line via Padampur.[39]

Construction of the 52-kilometre-long (32 mi) Jharsuguda–Barpalli rail line is essential for transportation of coal from the Ib Valley Coalfield with a potential of 90 million tonnes per annum. Mahanadi Coalfields Limited will fund this project.[43]

Electrification

The Koraput–Damanjodi section was electrified in 1988–89. The Barang–Rajatgarh–Meramandoli section was electrified in 2002–03. Rajatgarh–Kapilas Road was electrified in 2003–04.[44]

Electrification of the Titlagarh–Sambalpur–Jharsuguda and Angul–Sambalpur sections were sanctioned in the Railway Budget for 2012–13 dedicated to nation by Prime minister Narendra Modi on 15 January 2019.[45] Traction work started in Vizianagaram–Jharsuguda section.

Electrification work

Electrification work from Vizianagaram to Titlagarh has been completed in 2017–18. Also, single line electrification work was completed from Titlagarh–Sambalpur–Jharsuguda section just electric line doubling in Titlagarh–Sambalpur section is under construction.

Track

Doubling of several lines have been sanctioned in the budget for 2012–13: Jharsaguda–Sambalpur, Sambalpur–Titlagarh, RaipurMahasamund–Titlagarh, Sambalpur–Talcher, Lapanga–Brundamal, Angul–Kerejang, Rajatgarh–Barang.[45]

The Ministry of Coal has identified the Talcher area as one of the major areas for coal production. Additionally, a number of coal blocks are being developed by the private sector. About 100 million tonnes of incremental coal freight is expected. Doubling of Talcher–Sambalpur, Sambalpur–Jharsuguda, Sambalpur–Titlagarh and Titlagarh–Mahasamund–Raipur has been sanctioned and work is in progress.[46]

References

  1. "58215/Jharsuguda - Titlagarh Passenger (UnReserved)". India Rail Info.
  2. "58528/Visakhapatnam - Raipur Passenger (UnReserved)". India Rail Info.
  3. "Howrah Koraput Express time schedule". Railway Reservation.
  4. "58131/Rourkela - Puri Passenger (UnReserved)". India Rail Info.
  5. "Jharsuguda". Geographical position. Jharsuguda district administration. Retrieved 30 November 2012.
  6. "Sambalpur district". Geographical background of the district. Sambalpur district administration. Retrieved 30 November 2012.
  7. "Balangir District". Location & Geography. Balangir district administration. Retrieved 30 November 2012.
  8. "Raipur District". Profile. Raipur district administration. Retrieved 30 November 2012.
  9. "Mahasamund, Chhattisgarh". Geography details. Mahasamund district administration. Retrieved 30 November 2012.
  10. "Nuapada District". At a glance. Nuapada district administration. Archived from the original on 30 March 2014. Retrieved 30 November 2012.
  11. "Vizianagaram District". Salient features. Vizianagaram district administration. Archived from the original on 23 February 2012. Retrieved 30 November 2012.
  12. "Industrial scenario of Western Odisha". navratnanews.com. Archived from the original on 29 January 2013. Retrieved 30 November 2012.
  13. "Coal Resources of India (As on 1.1.2004)" (PDF). Coal Wing, Geological Survey of India, Kolkata. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 March 2012. Retrieved 30 November 2012.
  14. "NTPC to add another 500 MW to Talcher Plant". The Indian Express. 10 August 2010. Retrieved 30 November 2012.
  15. "TTPS runs on 93% PLF". Business Standard. 6 November 2012. Retrieved 30 November 2012.
  16. "NTPC may get land for Gajamara, Darlipalli projects soon". Business Standard India. Business Standard, 5 March 2012. 5 March 2012. Retrieved 30 November 2012.
  17. "Jharsuguda Power Project". Sterlite Energy. Archived from the original on 13 November 2012. Retrieved 30 November 2012.
  18. "NALCO a Navratna Company". NALCO. Retrieved 30 November 2012.
  19. "Jharsuguda". Vedanta Aluminium Limited. Retrieved 30 November 2012.
  20. "Hindalco". manufacturing locations. Hindalco. Retrieved 30 November 2012.
  21. "Welcome to Bhusan Steel Limited". Manufacturing plants. Bhusan. Retrieved 30 November 2012.
  22. "Bhushan Power & Steel". Bhushan Limited. Retrieved 30 November 2012.
  23. "Ordnance Factory Bolangir". Ordnance Factory Board, Ministry of Defence, Govt. of India. Retrieved 6 December 2012.
  24. "Hindusthan Aeronautics Limited". Divisions/Engine Division Koraput. HAL. Retrieved 6 December 2012.
  25. "Major Events in the Formation of S.E. Railway". South Eastern Railway. Archived from the original on 1 April 2013. Retrieved 10 November 2012.
  26. https://eparlib.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/1777/1/lsd_02_05_27-09-1958.pdf page 13
  27. Chattopadhyay, Suhrid Sankar. "South Eastern Railway – A Saga of Performance". Frontline. Retrieved 25 November 2012.
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  32. "Geography – Railway Zones". IRFCA. Retrieved 21 November 2012.
  33. "IR History: Part - IV (1947 - 1970)". IRFCA. Retrieved 21 November 2012.
  34. "Vizianagaram-Gajapatinagaram doubling".
  35. "Bobbili-Gajapatinagaram doubling".
  36. "Bolangir-Khura railway line development demanded". The Hindu. 23 February 2011. Archived from the original on 8 March 2011. Retrieved 27 November 2012.
  37. "Wait continues for crucial rail link". The New Indian Express. 9 July 2012. Retrieved 27 November 2012.
  38. "Panel constituted to monitor land acquisition for railway projects". The Hindu. 26 October 2012. Retrieved 27 November 2012.
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  40. "Bimlagarh-Talcher rail link: All decks cleared". welcomeOdisha.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 27 November 2012.
  41. "Work on Rs. 1,100 crore Angul–Sukinda rail project by April 2013". Business Standard India. 11 October 2012. Retrieved 27 November 2012.
  42. "Work on Angul–Sukinda railway line to begin in April". New Indian Express. 11 October 2012. Retrieved 27 November 2012.
  43. Mehdudia, Sujay (22 September 2012). "290 MT Coal evacuation hampered due to lack of rail infrastructure". The Hindu Business Line. Retrieved 10 November 2012.
  44. "History of Electrification". IRFCA. Retrieved 10 November 2012.
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