Titilagarh: The Ministry of Railways today ordered the construction of a flyover at Titilagarh town in Bolangir district of Odisha to ease traffic congestion and to facilitate vehicular movement. The mega project is to be carried out at an estimated cost of Rs 183.89 Crore.

In response to the growing train traffic and congestion at Titilagarh Junction Station under Sambalpur Division of East Coast Railway (ECoR), the Ministry of Railways has sanctioned the infrastructure project. After completion, the flyover will facilitate smoother train operations in Raipur-Vizianagaram, Titilagarh-Sambalpur, and Sambalpur-Raipur Railway Sections. This project, set to be executed under the Energy Corridor Scheme of Indian Railways, is a vital step towards enhancing the efficiency and capacity of train movements in this busy section, an official source said.

Titlagarh is a junction Station in Sambalpur Division connecting Vizianagaram, Raipur, and Sambalpur. Presently there is a major constraint at Titilagarh Station affecting the movement of trains. Up trains from Raipur end when admitting to Titilagarh yard crosses the path of Down traffic to Sambalpur at the North end of the yard. The number of such cross movements has been assessed to be around 38 per day as per the Line capacity statement in 2023-24.

Such a large number of cross movements affect overall mobility in the Train Operations System (TOS). Train traffic is being affected and detained not only at Titilagarh but also at adjoining Stations due to a lack of clearance from Titilagarh attributable to yard congestion caused by cross movements.

The flyover aims to address the increasing train traffic problems by providing a dedicated infrastructure for trains from and to Vizianagaram, Raipur and Sambalpur directions at Titilagarh without crossing other lines.

Key Highlights of the Project:

  • Project Cost: The flyover will be constructed at a sanctioned cost of Rs 183.89 Crore.
  • Length: The flyover will span nearly 8.11 Km.
  • After completion, this project will facilitate a smooth movement of passenger trains in Vizianagaram, Sambalpur, and Raipur directions.
  • Energy Corridor: The construction will be part of the Energy Corridor of Indian Railways, showcasing a commitment to sustainable and efficient infrastructure development.
  • Operational Efficiency: The new flyover will eliminate detentions on account of the cross-movements, improving the average speed and operational efficiency of trains in both Raipur-Vizianagaram Main Line and Titilagarh-Sambalpur Line.
  • Congestion Relief: Main Line trains will no longer be detained at the Titilagarh Station, significantly reducing the waiting period for trains approaching this busy junction.

“Indian Railways is committed to improving its infrastructure across the country. This new flyover at Titilagarh is a significant step towards reducing traffic congestion and enhancing the efficiency of train operations,” a spokesperson of the ECoR expressed.

Worth mentioning, Titilagarh railway station is a major junction, handling various train movements. The construction of this flyover will facilitate simultaneous movements of trains towards Vizianagaram, Sambalpur, and Raipur without crossings. Previously, train movements had to be halted at Titilagarh to allow for cross-traffic from the above three directions, leading to delays and operational inefficiencies.

By providing hassle-free train movement and eliminating cross-movement detentions, this new rail flyover is expected to enhance the overall travel experience for passengers and boost the operational capabilities of Indian Railways in this region.

Presently, the train movements create surface crossing at Titilagarh Junction Station. This limitation prevents the simultaneous movement of trains from Raipur towards Vizianagaram, from Vizianagaram towards Sambalpur, and from Sambalpur towards Raipur at Titilagarh Railway Station.

Once this flyover is commissioned, simultaneous movement of trains towards all directions can happen simultaneously.