Archive · 29 Sep 2026
Indian Railways Approves Second Track for Odisha Mineral Route
Indian Railways plans to build a second track in Odisha.
The track will cover the 6-kilometre route between Barbil and Bolanikhadan.
Right now, only one track is used there.
Many trains carry iron ore and pellets from nearby mines and industrial facilities.
About 9 million tonnes of goods travel on the route each year.
The new track should help trains move with fewer delays.
It could allow the route to carry 8.9 million more tonnes annually.
The project is meant to prepare for more mining and industrial activity in the future.
Indian Railways approved a ₹122 crore project to add a second track along the 6-kilometre Barbil-Bolanikhadan route in Odisha.
The single-line section currently handles about 9 million tonnes of freight annually, including around six loaded iron-ore rakes each day.
The additional track is expected to reduce delays and support smoother freight train operations.
The project could add capacity for another 8.9 million tonnes of freight traffic per year.
Iron ore and pellets from SAIL’s Bolani mines and private sidings linked to Rungta and Khatau Narbheram move toward steel plants and ports.
- Who
- Indian Railways, along with freight operators serving mines, steel plants and ports.
- What
- A ₹122 crore project to add a second track on the 6-kilometre Barbil-Bolanikhadan railway section.
- When
- The articles do not specify a completion date.
- Where
- Between Barbil and Bolanikhadan in Odisha’s mineral-rich region.
- Why
- To ease capacity constraints, reduce freight delays and handle expected growth in iron-ore and other mineral traffic.
- Project cost
- ₹122 crore
- Route length
- 6 kilometres
- Current configuration
- Single-line railway section
- Current annual traffic
- About 9 million tonnes
- Current daily traffic
- Around six loaded iron-ore rakes originate from the area each day
- Additional planned capacity
- 8.9 million tonnes per year
- Rail corridor
- Indian Railways’ Energy, Mineral and Cement Corridor