Berhampur: The Odisha Rail Infrastructure Development Limited (ORIDL), a joint venture between the state government and the railway ministry, has commenced work on the detailed project report (DPR) for the 258-kilometer railway line connecting Gopalpur to Rayagada, according to sources.
DPR for Gopalpur-Sambalpur Line Under Review
Railway sources further indicated that the DPR for another proposed line from Gopalpur to Sambalpur, via Rairakhol and Phulbani, is currently under scrutiny. Following recommendations from the railway board, ORIDL has resubmitted a revised DPR for the Gopalpur-Sambalpur section, which includes Phulbani in the Kandhamal district. This revision comes after protests by residents of the tribal-dominated district. A key highlight of this project is that Kandhamal district will be connected by rail for the first time once the line is constructed.
Economic Impact and Strategic Importance
The Gopalpur-Rayagada line is expected to link the port town of Gopalpur with the industrial hub in southern Odisha, while the Gopalpur-Sambalpur track will connect southern and western Odisha, fostering regional integration. Saroj Ranjan Pattanayak, convener of the South Odisha Railway Development Joint Action Committee, stated that both projects will significantly boost economic development in the respective regions.
Earlier, on April 10, several committee members staged demonstrations at Rail Bhawan and Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, demanding the construction of these two railway lines and the development of Berhampur station. In response, the railways has sanctioned Rs 300 crore for the development of Berhampur station, which is the last major station on the East Coast Railway before the Palasa-Ichapuram section, now part of the newly established South Coast Railway.
