Bhubaneswar, Jan 2 (Reporter) The 138.32 Km long new railway line connecting Bargarh Road to Nawapara Road in Odisha is set to improve connectivity, boost regional development, generate employment, and offer significant benefits to both passenger and freight transportation in the region. The Railway Board sanctioned the project on September 10, 2024, at a total cost of Rs. 2621.92 crore. The State Government of Odisha has extended its full support by providing land free of cost and offering a grant of Rs. 300 crore for the project. The project necessitates the acquisition of 924.64 hectares of land, amounting to approximately Rs. 364 crore. About 752.524 hectares of private land, 123.233 hectares of government land, and 48.913 hectares of forest land would be acquired for the project. East Coast Railway (ECoR) sources said the new rail line will be an electrified broad gauge (BG) mail line from Bargarh Road to Nawapara Road, passing through Padmapur, providing an alternative shorter route, and bypassing the congested Jharsuguda-Bilaspur-Raipur circuit. This new route will reduce the travel distance by 53 km compared to the Sambalpur-Jharsuguda-Raipur route and 87 km compared to the Sambalpur-Titlagarh-Raipur route, facilitating quicker transit of goods and passengers. The project will have 13 stations, including 2 existing stations and 11 new stations, improving accessibility across the region. With the active collaboration of the Odisha government and local authorities, the timely completion of the Bargarh Road to Nawapara Road railway line is poised to significantly enhance connectivity in the region. The project will not only improve passenger transportation but also foster economic growth through improved transportation of goods...////...