In a significant development for the state's transport network, Haryana's top bureaucrat announced major headway on several key railway infrastructure initiatives. Anurag Rastogi, the Chief Secretary of Haryana and Chairman of the Haryana Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation (HRIDC), stated that substantial progress has been made across flagship projects, marking a leap forward in regional connectivity.
Major Decisions and Expansion Plans
The progress was reviewed during the 33rd meeting of the HRIDC Board of Directors. Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi directed officials to speed up the ongoing work on all projects. Impressed by the expertise HRIDC has cultivated, Rastogi suggested that the corporation should now set its sights beyond state borders. He proposed that HRIDC expand its operations and aim to establish a national footprint, leveraging its proven capabilities in managing complex rail infrastructure.
Progress on Key Corridors and Land Compensation
A major focus of the meeting was the Eastern Orbital Rail Corridor (EORC). This ambitious project will connect Sonipat to Palwal, passing through Baghpat, Ghaziabad, and Gautam Buddha Nagar. Officials reported that the alignment study for the corridor has already received approval from a steering committee led by the Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh. Furthermore, the crucial feasibility study for the EORC is now at an advanced stage.
Substantial ground has also been covered in the sensitive area of land acquisition. The meeting was informed that against land awards totalling Rs 1,878 crore, a significant sum of Rs 1,533 crore has already been disbursed as compensation to landowners. In a separate matter, an additional Rs 99 crore has been paid out against various arbitration awards, helping to clear potential hurdles.
Breakthrough in Tunnel Construction
One of the most notable achievements is in the construction of the Haryana Orbital Rail Corridor (HORC) tunnel. This tunnel is noted for being, cross-section wise, one of the largest in India built for passenger traffic. Construction is moving ahead at a steady and promising pace.
To accelerate work, operations are currently running from eight active faces, with two more faces being developed to further boost progress. The total tunnel length to be constructed using the advanced New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM) is 7,200 metres. Excitingly, excavation for 3,773 metres has already been completed. This means over 52% of the total tunnel length is now ready, marking a major engineering milestone.
A Vision for Modern and Sustainable Infrastructure
Commenting on the overall advancements, Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi emphasised that these projects are a clear reflection of Haryana's strong commitment to building modern, efficient, and sustainable rail infrastructure. He stated that once completed, these new corridors will dramatically enhance regional connectivity, provide robust support for economic growth, and vastly improve everyday mobility for the state's citizens.
Rastogi gave assurances that HRIDC remains unwavering in its focus on the timely execution of all projects. He reiterated that this drive for speed will not come at the cost of quality, with the corporation maintaining the highest standards of safety, quality, and environmental compliance throughout the construction process.
