The Haryana Orbital Rail Corridor, a key infrastructure project designed to enhance connectivity across the state and alleviate pressure on Delhi's railway network, has been delayed by three years and is now expected to be completed by December 2029. The delay is attributed to changes in alignment and design of the Aravali tunnel near Sohna, the integration of technologies such as KAVACH and automatic signalling, the construction of a 5-km viaduct near Roz Ka Meo where the corridor intersects the dedicated freight corridor, and land acquisition challenges.
Revised Timeline and Cost Escalation
The revised timeline comes with a significant increase in project cost, which has escalated from Rs 5,617 crore to nearly Rs 11,440 crore. This revised cost was approved by the government last year. The project requires the acquisition of 741 hectares of land, including 545 hectares of private land. Officials have stated that compensation has been paid to all landowners, but the process took longer than anticipated.
Project Phases and Current Progress
According to the Haryana Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation, the 126-km double-line electrified broad-gauge corridor connecting Palwal to Sonipat via Sohna, Manesar, and Kharkhoda is being executed in two phases. Civil work on the 30-km Phase I section between Dhulawat, Manesar, and Jhajjar is currently underway. The tendering process for the remaining 96-km Phase II stretch is also in progress.
Managing Director of the corporation, Sukhvinder Singh, stated that significant design and technical modifications were required for the Aravali tunnel to ensure long-term operational safety. The complex terrain and the need for multiple statutory clearances have contributed to the delay. “About 30% of the work on Phase I, which includes earthwork, culverts, and bridge pillars, has been completed. Slight changes have been made to the design and technical alignment of the tunnel being constructed in Sohna,” he said.
Benefits and Connectivity
Running largely parallel to the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal Expressway, the corridor is expected to provide direct rail connectivity between Gurgaon, Sohna, Manesar, Jhajjar, Kharkhoda, Sonipat, Faridabad, and Palwal. It will eliminate the current dependence on Delhi for rail movement between many of these destinations, reducing travel time and easing pressure on railway stations in the national capital.
Designed for speeds of up to 160 kmph for passenger trains and 100 kmph for freight services, the corridor will be capable of operating high-speed trains like Vande Bharat. The project is expected to handle nearly 20,000 passengers and 50 million tonnes of freight annually while boosting connectivity to key industrial hubs in Sohna, Manesar, Nuh, Kharkhoda, and Sonipat.
Officials said the corridor will help divert rail traffic not destined for Delhi, support the development of multimodal logistics hubs, facilitate faster freight movement, and improve regional connectivity across the National Capital Region.
