Status Operational Track length 445 km (277 mi) Electrification 25kV AC 50 Hz | Opened 1966 Number of tracks 1 Stations 48 | |
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Track gauge 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) Broad gauge Locale | ||
Kothavalasa–Kirandul line belongs to Waltair Railway Division of East Coast Railway Zone. It passes through three states Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Chhattisgarh.
Contents
History
In 1960, Indian Railway took up three projects: the Kothavalasa – Araku – Koraput – Jeypore – Jagdalpur – Dantewara – Kirandaul line, the Jharsuguda – Sambalpur – Bargarh – Balangir – Titlagarh Project and the Biramitrapur – Rourkela – Bimlagarh – Kiriburu project. All the three projects taken together were popularly known as the DBK Project or the Dandakaranya – Bolangir – Kiriburu project. The Kothavalasa–Kirandaul line was opened in 1966–67 under South Eastern Railway Zone with financial aid of Japan for transporting Iron ore.
Geography
This line passes hill sections of Eastern ghats through Araku Valley. This is the highest broad gauge line of the country. The line has a total of 58 tunnels and 84 major bridges and each tunnel is as long as 520 metres.
Electrification
Electrification of the line was completed in four phases. Kirandul–Jagdalpur section was completed in 1980. Jagdalpur–Koraput section was completed in 1981. Koraput–Araku–Waltair section was completed in 1982.The Kothavalasa–Kirandul route was completely electrified by 1982.
Jurisdiction
The line has a length of 445 km (277 mi). The Kothavalasa-Kirandul section is classified as a Group E-special class line in which speed should be below 100 km/h.
Performance
This line is mainly used for freight purposes which is a huge profit benefitting Waltair Division. Nearly ₹3,000 crore (US$450 million) of profit comes through this line. Iron ore from Baladila were transported to Waltair through this line.