📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Bikashkumargiri1997
Business
Railways greenlights Rs 122 crore Barbil‑Bolanikhadan line doubling to boost iron‑ore freight
✍️ Pragativadi
🗓 29 Sep 2026, 04:33 AM
👁 12
The Ministry of Railways has approved a Rs 122 crore project to double the Barbil‑Bolanikhadan line, aiming to increase iron‑ore freight capacity in Odisha.
New Delhi – The Indian Railways has given the go‑ahead to a Rs 122 crore infrastructure project that will double the single‑track section between Barbil and Bolanikhadan in Odisha. The upgrade is expected to enhance the line’s capacity for hauling iron‑ore, a key commodity for the state’s mining sector.
The doubling work will involve laying an additional track alongside the existing one, along with associated signalling and bridge reinforcement. Officials said the project is part of a broader effort to improve freight efficiency on routes that serve mineral‑rich regions.
While the exact timeline for completion has not been disclosed, the railway ministry indicated that the enhanced corridor will help reduce turnaround times for freight trains, thereby supporting the logistics chain for steel manufacturers and exporters.
Stakeholders, including mining companies operating in the Barbil‑Bolanikhadan belt, have welcomed the move, citing potential cost savings and smoother supply‑chain operations.
The project underscores the government’s focus on upgrading freight infrastructure to boost industrial output and regional economic growth.
The doubling work will involve laying an additional track alongside the existing one, along with associated signalling and bridge reinforcement. Officials said the project is part of a broader effort to improve freight efficiency on routes that serve mineral‑rich regions.
While the exact timeline for completion has not been disclosed, the railway ministry indicated that the enhanced corridor will help reduce turnaround times for freight trains, thereby supporting the logistics chain for steel manufacturers and exporters.
Stakeholders, including mining companies operating in the Barbil‑Bolanikhadan belt, have welcomed the move, citing potential cost savings and smoother supply‑chain operations.
The project underscores the government’s focus on upgrading freight infrastructure to boost industrial output and regional economic growth.