The 13.3-km Purunakatak–Charichhak rail stretch in Odisha’s Boudh district has undergone a safety inspection and speed trial ahead of its proposed commissioning, a step that could extend train access further into the state’s interior regions.
Commissioner of Railway Safety for the South Eastern Circle Sumeet Singhal inspected the newly constructed section of the Khurda Road–Balangir new railway line on Wednesday. The review assessed whether the track, bridges, signalling systems and other infrastructure were ready for safe train operations.
During the inspection, Singhal examined the track, signalling and telecommunication arrangements, bridges, viaducts, a tunnel and other safety installations along the route. A speed trial was conducted between Charichhak and Purunakatak stations to assess the operational fitness of the section before it is opened for services.
The stretch includes Tunnel T-7, a 1,975-metre structure built through difficult terrain. It also has two major viaducts with a combined length of nearly 1.9 km and a road overbridge. According to the report, the section has been equipped with upgraded signalling, improved telecommunication facilities, a strengthened track structure and other mandated safety systems.
Senior officials from East Coast Railway, including representatives of its Construction Organisation, accompanied the safety commissioner during the inspection. The team reviewed arrangements at different points along the line as part of the pre-commissioning process.
The inspection is significant for the wider Khurda Road–Balangir project, which is intended to connect coastal Odisha with the western part of the state while improving rail access to several interior and underdeveloped areas. The project was sanctioned in 1994-95 and covers 301 km.
A total of 226 km of the line has already been commissioned, with trains currently operating between Khurda Road and Daspalla, and between Balangir and Purunakatak via Sonepur. Once the Purunakatak–Charichhak section is commissioned, the completed portion of the project will increase to around 240 km.
The railway authorities’ next step is to complete the commissioning process for the inspected stretch, after which train operations can begin on the section subject to the required safety clearances and operational procedures.
