Bhubaneswar, 15th July 2025: In a major step towards strengthening Odisha’s railway infrastructure, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has approved a Rs 802.9 crore project for the construction of the Cuttack–Nirgundi 4th line (15.99 km) and a railway flyover at Nirgundi.
This project will enhance the capacity and efficiency of train operations along the Howrah–Chennai main line and the Cuttack–Paradeep route. The Cuttack–Nirgundi section is part of the Howrah–Chennai High-Density Network (HDN).
Currently, due to the merging of heavy traffic from Paradip Port with the main line at Cuttack, congestion is frequent. Also, the absence of a direct junction at Cuttack for trains headed toward Talcher causes significant delays.
The proposed new fourth line and flyover will help segregate Paradeep-bound traffic from the main line, reducing congestion between Cuttack and Dhenkanal. This will improve punctuality of passenger and mail/express trains.
The problem of express trains being halted at Nirgundi due to crossings will also be resolved. The project will enable separate movement of passenger and freight trains, allowing for smoother and faster operations.
As part of the project:
Two new bridges will be constructed over the Mahanadi and Birupa rivers.
The new line and flyover will be equipped with Kavach safety system and 2×25 kV electric traction system, allowing trains to run at a maximum speed of 130 km/h.
This infrastructure development will significantly benefit both passenger and freight services in Odisha.