Tender floated for 3rd line project between Khurda Road & Gangadharpur

Bhubaneswar: Railways has floated a tender for the construction of a third line from Khurda Road to Gangadharpur (58 km) at an estimated cost of Rs 501 crore. The stretch is an important section under East Coast Railway (ECoR) on the Howrah-Chennai mainline and part of the Khurda Road-Vizianagaram (363 km) third line project.Under the project, the agency, after winning the tender, will execute roadbed, minor bridges, major bridges, road under bridges, building works, supply of ballast, and other allied works, including signalling and electrification works. The agency will also carry out general service works, including power supply arrangements and the shifting and modification of high-tension and low-tension lines between Khurda Road and Gangadharpur stations.The closing date of the tender is Dec 17. The project will be completed in 30 months, according to the official tender notice.On Aug 16, 2023, the Centre approved seven railway projects, including the Nergundi-Barang and Khurda Road-Vizianagaram third line, at an estimated cost of Rs 5,618 crore. The Khurda Road-Vizianagaram section on the Howrah-Chennai mainline is one of the busiest routes. To decongest the route and enhance capacity to handle busy traffic, the railways started constructing a third line on the Howrah-Chennai mainline in a phased manner. The Khurda Road-Gangadharpur section is one among them.“After the construction of the third line on the route, railways can run more passenger and goods trains. Industries will benefit from the decongestion,” said Ranjit Swain, a rail user.