The engineering team of East Coast Railway (ECoR) has reached a significant milestone by excavating a 700-metre-long escape tunnel for the Khurda Road-Balangir rail link project in Boudh district.

ECoR's construction division created the escape tunnel from National Highway-57, connecting it to the 4,185-metre-long tunnel being built in the Adhenigarh-Charichhak section within a reserve forest under the Madhapur range in Boudh. The excavation was completed on Tuesday. This escape tunnel will facilitate the early completion of the main tunnel and boost the long-pending project, which was sanctioned in 1994. Out of the 301 km Khurda Road-Balangir project, 152.8 km has been completed to date. Indian Railways has been constructing the line from both Khurda Road and Balangir ends to ensure its timely completion.

So far, 105.8 km from Khurda Road to Daspalla and 47 km from Balangir to Sonepur have been commissioned. Additionally, the 28.76 km stretch from Sonepur to Jharmunda has been completed. The segment from Sonepur to Purunakatak, covering around 73 km, is expected to be finished within the next few months.

The Ministry of Railways is closely monitoring the Khurda Road-Balangir project. New lines are being laid from both ends to expedite work and complete the project as soon as possible.