Khurda-Balangir rail project hits forest land diversion hurdle

23 Mar 2022 CW Team

The diversion of forest land is now a major obstacle in the construction work of the Khurda Road-Balangir new line project of 289 km which links western Odisha to the coastal part of Odisha.

Out of the forest land of 1,844 acres required for the project, diversion of only 170 acres has been done so far.

On Wednesday Railway minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw told the media that this project includes the acquisition of 6,162 acres of land along with a diversion of 1,844 acres of forest land. Out of which, 5,333 acres of land is acquired while forest land diversion of only 170 acres is completed to date. The state government needs to acquire land of 829 acres and take steps for the diversion of forest land of 1,674 acres, he added.

The Odisha government entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Railway Ministry to provide land free of cost for the Jeypore-Nabarangpur new line and the Khurda Road-Balangir new line. It is among the oldest projects that have been sanctioned in 1994-95.

Currently out of the total work 92 km has been commissioned; Khurda Road to Mahipur of 77 km and Balangir to Bichupalli of 15 km.

The total estimated cost for the project stands at Rs 3,792 crore. Alongside the free land, the government of Odisha will share 50% of the project cost from 112 km to 289 km. Up to March 2021, an expenditure of Rs 1,497 crore is incurred on the project. Around Rs 1,000.5 crore outlay has also been provided in the fiscal year 2021-22.

Image Source

Also read: Odisha govt to upgrade 253 slums in urban forest land

Infrastructure Urban

06 Apr 2026

CFI Appoints New National Council for FY27 and FY28

The Construction Federation of India (CFI) has announced its newly elected National Council and office bearers for a two-year term covering FY27 and FY28. M. V. Satish, Advisor to CMD and Lead Ambassador for Middle East, L&T, has been elected President; Priti Patel, Chief Strategy & Growth Officer, Tata Projects, has been appointed Vice President; and Ajit Bhate, Managing Director, Precast India Infrastructures, has taken charge as Treasurer.The newly formed National Council brings together senior leaders from major EPC and infrastructure companies, reflecting CFI’s continued focus o..

India REIT Market Gains Momentum with Strong Returns

India’s Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) market is witnessing strong growth, emerging as a competitive investment avenue both domestically and across Asia. According to a recent ANAROCK report released at EXCELERATE 2026 by NAREDCO Maharashtra NextGen, the sector is evolving into a mature asset class driven by solid fundamentals, regulatory backing and rising investor confidence.The introduction of Small and Medium REITs (SM REITs) in 2025 has further widened access through fractional ownership, unlocking a potential monetisation opportunity of Rs 670–710 billion. Indian REITs have deli..

Domicil Debuts In Tricity With Luxe 9 Showcase

Domicil Germany, a luxury home furnishing brand from the House of HTL International, has made its Tricity debut with an exclusive showcase at Luxe 9, marking its first retail presence in the region.The invite-only event brought together architects, interior designers, real estate developers and high-net-worth individuals, reflecting rising demand for globally inspired, design-led living spaces.Centred on the theme ‘Celebrate Living with Timeless German Design’, the showcase highlighted Domicil’s focus on combining craftsmanship, functionality and refined aesthetics. Attendees experienced..