BHUBANESWAR: Four more bridges will be constructed by the Railways on four rivers – Birupa, Mahanadi, Kathajodi, and Kuakhai – in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. These bridges will come up on the Nergundi-Barang section of 22 km. A tender has been floated for the project. The 22-km rail line would be constructed at around Rs 1000 crore.
This 22-km section is a part of the strategic third line expansion between Bhadrak in Odisha and Vizianagaram in Andhra Pradesh (385 km) on the Howrah-Chennai mainline.The most important railway bridge (2.1 km long) will be on the mighty Mahanadi river.
The first Mahanadi rail bridge, completed in 1899 with an estimated cost of Rs 26,88,200, was an engineering marvel of its time, featuring 64 spans of 30 metres each. “This bridge, designed under the supervision of William Beckett, an engineer who received a gold medal from the Institution of Civil Engineers in 1901, remains an iconic structure in India’s railway history,” said the East Coast Railway (ECoR) official statement.
The second Mahanadi rail bridge, commissioned in 2008, was constructed at a cost of Rs 120 crore. Spanning 2.1 km, the bridge is designed to accommodate trains travelling at speeds of up to 160 km per hour and is engineered to withstand seismic activities, said the ECoR sources.
The new Mahanadi rail bridge, along with other important bridges on rivers Birupa, Kathajodi, and Kuakhai, are part of the third line project. These will not only enhance the capacity and reliability of the railway network but also ensure safe and efficient travel across this vital railway section, said the official sources.
A senior railway officer said this project is crucial for enhancing the capacity of train traffic along with boosting the region’s economy by improving the connectivity between key industrial and commercial hubs in Odisha and beyond. “The additional line will alleviate congestion on existing routes, reduce travel time, and enhance the overall efficiency of freight and passenger movement,” he added.
Currently, trains are getting delayed due to the lack of a third line. Sometimes trains coming from the Dhenkanal side are getting detained due to congestion. The Howrah-Chennai mainline passing through Cuttack and Bhubaneswar witnesses the highest traffic and it needs this project badly for the smooth running of both freight and passenger trains, said Ranjit Swain, a rail fan from the city.
In the third line project between Bhadrak and Nergundi, about 48.8 km has been commissioned. Preliminary steps have been taken for construction work between Khurda Road and Vizianagaram, a stretch of 363 km, said an official statement of the ECoR.
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