ODISHA (Metro Rail News): The Ministry of Railways has approved the construction of a 4th Railway Line between Ranital Link Cabin and Bhadrak station in Odisha. This new line will span a distance of 5.06 kilometres and has been sanctioned at an estimated cost of ₹149.32 crore.
The project aims to increase line capacity and operational efficiency along this crucial section. The new line will streamline the freight connectivity to important ports like Dhamra and Paradeep.
The Ranital Link Cabin–Bhadrak section is situated on the critical Howrah–Chennai main line. The corridor currently operates under high traffic density, which results in frequent train delays. This has a direct impact on the punctuality and reliability of both passenger and freight services.
The sanctioned fourth line over a 5.06 km stretch is designed to reduce congestion by enhancing the line capacity and enabling the decongestion of existing up and down main lines. Once commissioned, the additional track will reduce the headway between trains.
A key technical outcome of the project is the segregation of freight and coaching traffic, which will optimise throughput and minimise inter-traffic interference. This operational bifurcation will help to improve the overall average sectional speed.
Furthermore, the project will augment the corridor’s capacity to handle higher train volumes, aligning with the anticipated growth in traffic due to increased industrial, agricultural, and passenger movement in the region.
This project is a critical component of East Coast Railway’s ongoing infrastructure upgradation programme, which aims to develop a future-ready, high-efficiency rail network in Odisha that meets global standards of reliability and performance.
