Bhubaneswar, November 6: In a significant move to enhance railway safety and to facilitate increased train speeds, East Coast Railway (ECoR) has initiated extensive safety fencing works along various railway sections across its jurisdiction.
Under this ambitious safety initiative, ECoR has sanctioned Safety Fencing works covering a total of 3133 Track kilometers across its jurisdiction, at an estimated project cost of over Rs 1,061 Crores at present. The works are progressing across all three divisions — Khurda Road, Sambalpur, and Waltair.
In Khurda Road Division safety fencing works for 1255 kms. at a cost of Rs.458 crores in the Bhadrak-Palasa, Khurda Road-Puri and Nergundi-Kerejang sections are in progress and Jakhapura-Jaroli work for 287 kms in the section with a cost of over Rs.98 crore for which detailed estimate is under sanction.
Similarly in Sambalpur Divison safety fencing works for 1278 kms at a cost of more than Rs.404 crores in the Jharsuguda Road-Sambalpur City-Kerejang, Balangir-Theruvali and Sarla-Balangir sections are in progress and work for 316.5 kms in the Lakholi-Titlagarh sections detailed estimate for Rs 93.43 crore is under sanction.
Likewise, in Waltair Division safety fencing works for 600 kms at a cost of over Rs.199.27 crores in the Palasa-VisakhapatnamDuvvada and Vizianagram-Singapur Road sections are in progress.
These works aim to ensure Safe Train Operations, Prevent Unauthorized Trespassing, and Restrict the Movement of Cattle and Wild Animals near Railway Tracks. By implementing these measures, ECoR is reinforcing its commitment to providing a secure and efficient railway network.
Benefits of Safety Fencing:
• Prevents Cattle Run Overs (CRO): Reduces train detentions and derailments caused by cattle straying onto tracks.
• Protects Modern Train Sets: High-speed and lighter trains like Vande Bharat and Amrit Bharat are safeguarded against potential damage.
• Reduces Human Runovers: Especially effective in areas where people live close to railway tracks.
• Boosts Crew Confidence and Punctuality: Secured tracks enable drivers to operate confidently at maximum permissible speeds, improving timekeeping and efficiency.
• Wildlife and Elephant Safety: Helps limit speed restriction zones in elephant corridors, reducing risk to animals and improving train movement.
• Safety fencing will facilitate train operations at speeds of 130 kmph and beyond in multiple sections.
• It will also seal access at level crossings, ROBs, RUBs and Bridges, ensuring smooth train movement and improved safety measures.
