Railways Completes Odisha’s Longest Tunnel on Khurda–Balangir Line

23 Apr 2025 CW Team

Indian Railways has completed the construction of Tunnel T-4, the longest tunnel on the Khurda Road–Balangir railway line, marking a significant milestone in Odisha’s railway infrastructure. The 4,185-metre tunnel connects Adenigarh and Charichhak in Boudh district and is now the longest in the state.

Railway officials confirmed the successful breakthrough of the tunnel on 16 April, an event referred to as "daylighting", indicating full excavation from one end to the other. The Khurda Road–Balangir rail line spans 301 kilometres, of which 226 kilometres have been completed. Existing operations run between Khurda Road and Daspalla, and from Balangir to Purnakatak. The remaining 75-kilometre stretch includes seven tunnels, with Tunnel T-4 being the most technically challenging.

Authorities emphasised the project's strategic importance in linking Odisha's coastal and western regions. They stated that its completion will aid regional integration and spur economic development through improved transport accessibility. The rail project has been progressing in phases, and the breakthrough of Tunnel T-4 is expected to accelerate work across the remaining sections.

Source: Odisha TV

Infrastructure Energy

25 Jun 2026

Centre Prioritising Energy Security With Coal Gasification

Union minister for Coal and Mines G Kishan Reddy said the Centre is prioritising energy security through a strategic shift to coal gasification and has announced incentives totalling Rs 460 billion (bn) to support the effort. He said more than 35 companies will start coal gasification activities in India within two months and that the government is encouraging firms that bring technology to close the domestic technology gap. The minister described the initiative as aimed at reducing import dependence and developing indigenous capacity. India has the fifth-largest coal reserve in the world, and..

BHEL and Coal India Invest Rs 250 bn in Odisha Gasification

Bharat Heavy Electricals (BHEL) and Coal India (CIL) are jointly investing Rs 250 billion in a coal gasification project in Odisha, with the Prime Minister laying the foundation stone in Jharsuguda. Union Coal and Mines Minister G Kishan Reddy described the initiative as a transformative shift in coal utilisation that will open industrial avenues for the state. The project moves coal beyond conventional power generation to industrial feedstocks. Coal gasification will convert coal into synthesis gas, a versatile feedstock for chemicals, fertilisers and synthetic fuels, and the technology is ex..

BCCL Hands Over Dugdha Coal Washery To JSW Steel

Bharat Coking Coal has handed over the Dugdha Coal Washery to JSW Steel, marking the first coal washery asset monetisation under the Ministry of Coal's asset monetisation programme. The handover took place in the presence of senior officials from Bharat Coking Coal Ltd, JSW Steel and JSW Energy. The washery has a capacity of two million tonnes per annum (mn t per annum), and its transfer is intended to introduce private sector practices into coal beneficiation operations. The monetisation is aimed at modernising coal sector assets, improving operational efficiency and enhancing resource utilis..