Bargarh Road–Nawapara Road new BG rail line to boost connectivity in Western Odisha

Bhubaneswar, July 11 (UNI) Indian Railways has made steady progress on the construction of the 138.32-km-long Broad Gauge (BG) railway line between Bargarh Road and Nawapara Road, a key infrastructure project aimed at transforming rail connectivity in Western Odisha.

East Coast Railway (ECoR) sources said the project is crucial not only for improving regional mobility but also for bringing significant economic and logistical benefits to the area.

A major component of the initiative, land acquisition, is advancing efficiently.

A total of 1,859.488 acres of private land is required across 85 villages, and land schedules have already been submitted for 77 villages. Gazette notifications under Section 20A have been issued for 46 villages, covering 1,106.411 acres.

The Bargarh Road–Nawapara Road BG rail line was sanctioned by the Railway Board on September 10, 2024, with a project cost of Rs. 2,621.92 crore.

This includes Rs. 2,107.30 crore for civil engineering works, Rs. 305.55 crore for electrical engineering, and Rs. 209.07 crore for signal and telecommunication.

The Odisha Government is actively supporting the project by providing land free of cost and extending a grant of Rs 300 crore, underscoring its commitment to strengthening regional infrastructure.
The total land requirement for the project is 924.64 hectares, comprising 752.524 hectares of private land, 123.233 hectares of government land, and 48.913 hectares of forest land.

District authorities in Bargarh and Nawapara have been formally appointed to oversee land acquisition.

The new electrified broad-gauge line will offer a shorter and less congested route, bypassing the existing Jharsuguda–Bilaspur–Raipur circuit.

It is expected to reduce travel distance by 53 km compared to the Sambalpur–Jharsuguda–Raipur route and by 87 km compared to the Sambalpur–Titilagarh–Raipur route.

The alignment will feature 13 stations, including 2 existing and 11 new ones, enhancing accessibility across multiple districts.

ECoR sources said the successful completion of land acquisition and ongoing construction will pave the way for improved rail connectivity, faster movement of passengers and goods, and the overall socio-economic development of the region.