BHUBANESWAR: With the Nabakalebara festival only a few months away, the doubling of Delang-Sakhigopal section under Delang-Puri line has been completed. Commissioner, Railway Safety (CRS) of South Eastern Circle, is scheduled to inspect the line on Friday to recommend its final certification.
Sanctioned in 2010-11, double lining of this section has been carried out with an estimated `165 crore. Sources said all important works in the section have been wrapped up and after CRS S Nayak’s inspection, ECoR will have to comply with any modification and change that he suggests.
The 13.3 km stretch is one of the two sections under the Delang-Puri line for which State Government has been lobbying vociferously. Since the Government is expecting arrival of 30 lakh tourists for the festival, railway is going to be a crucial mode of public transportation.
“We’re hopeful of meeting the compliance for the Delang-Sakhigopal section within 10 days. After that, final certification is only a matter of time,” the sources added.
The ECoR sources said work on the second stretch between Sakhigopal and Puri is also going on in full swing. General Manager Rajiv Bishnoi had visited the sites last week to supervise the overhead electrification, bridge and earth works, signalling and tele-communication. This stretch, measuring 15.4 km, is expected to be complete by March.
“The progress of the work is being monitored very closely and feedback is obtained from the field units on a regular basis. The Sakhigopal-Puri section, with help of the State Government, will be complete by the deadline,” CPRO JP Mishra said.