The Khurda Road-Balangir new railway line project has successfully cleared its final hurdle, with stage-II clearance granted for the forest land required for the project. Stage-I clearance for the forest land was granted in February 2023. The project involves acquiring 3,274.3 hectares of land, including 746.4 hectares of forest land. The main obstacle in land acquisition was obtaining forest clearance for the 68-kilometre stretch from Daspalla in Nayagarh district to Purunakatak in Boudh district. This stretch, which passes through the Eastern Ghats, includes 594.6 hectares of forest land. The 301-kilometre-long new line will connect eastern and western Odisha, passing through districts such as Nayagarh, Boudh, and Subarnapur. The line will also provide the shortest route between Khurda and Balangir. However, the forest clearance has been a major roadblock to progress on the project, which was sanctioned in 1994-95. East Coast Railway (ECoR) officials stated that all necessary measures have been taken to safeguard the forest cover and prevent harm to wildlife. The forest diversion proposal was submitted in 2020, and after significant effort and compliance with environmental and Supreme Court directives, stage-I clearance was received in February 2023, followed by stage-II clearance on January 13 this year. With contracts in place, work has now intensified, an ECoR statement confirmed. The alignment of the track has been adjusted to avoid the Mahanadi wildlife sanctuary on one side and the Brutang river on the other. In consultation with the forest department, measures to minimise human-animal conflict have been implemented. A comprehensive wildlife conservation plan, approved by Odisha's principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife), includes provisions for viaducts and animal underpasses/overpasses. Seven tunnels, totalling 12.7 kilometres, will be constructed to reduce forest land acquisition, while a 4.8-kilometre-long viaduct is being built to avoid the Brutang reservoir. These engineering solutions aim to minimise tree felling and protect the ecosystem.