Phase-I of Khurda-Bolangir rail link to operationalise by year end

The Rs 120 crore first phase of the 289 km Khurda-Bolangir rail link in Orissa is scheduled for completion by the end of the current fiscal. The first phase is a 32-km stretch from Khurda to Begunia. The cost of the project, which earlier stood at Rs 700 crore, has now gone up to Rs 1,000 crore owing to inordinate delay in land acquisition. The second phase (32-112 km stretch) entails an outlay of Rs 381.1 crore as per the East Coast Railway (ECoR) and the same has been submitted to the Railway Board. Contact: The Orissa Government. Tel: 0674-2586 584. Fax: 0674-2582 842. E-mail: itsec@ori.nic.in Website: www.orissa.gov.in