Tunnel T-4 Breakthrough Marks Major Progress in Khurda Road–Balangir Rail Project

Boudh: In a major boost to Odisha’s infrastructure development, the Khurda Road–Balangir New Rail Line project achieved a key milestone on Tuesday with the successful breakthrough of Tunnel T-4, the longest railway tunnel in the state.

Stretching 4,185 metres between Adenigarh and Charichhak stations in Boudh district, Tunnel T-4 marks the most significant engineering feat of the ongoing rail line project. The breakthrough, also known as daylighting, signals the completion of tunnelling work and paves the way for faster track-laying and connectivity efforts in the region.

The Khurda Road–Balangir New Rail Line project, spanning a total of 301 kilometres, has already seen the commissioning of 226 km—from Khurda Road to Daspalla on one end and Balangir to Purnakatak on the other. The remaining 75-km stretch between Daspalla and Purnakatak, where seven tunnels including T-4 are under construction, is now advancing at a steady pace.

Officials hailed the Tunnel T-4 breakthrough as a turning point for the project, which is poised to significantly enhance east-west connectivity across Odisha. Once completed, the rail line will link the coastal belt with the state’s western hinterland, facilitating seamless travel, improved logistics, and broader economic integration.