Kothavalasa–Kirandul line
Kothavalasa–Kirandul line passes
through Araku Valley in Visakhapatnam district
Overview
StatusOperational
OwnerIndian Railways
LocaleAndhra Pradesh, Odisha, Chhattisgarh
Termini
Stations48
Service
Operator(s)South Eastern Railway zone Till 2003 March, East Coast Railway zone from April 2003 to 2019 , South Coast Railway zone and East Coast Railway zone from Feb 2019
History
Opened1966
Technical
Track length445 km (277 mi)
Number of tracks1
Track gauge5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) broad gauge
Electrification25 kV AC 50 Hz
Route map

km
Up arrow to Pendruti
0
Kothavalasa
Left arrow to Vizianagaram Junction
9
Mallividu
15
Lakkavarupukota
26
Shrungavarupukota
33
Boddavara
45
Shivalingapuram
52
Tyada
62
Chimidipalli
71
Borra Guhalu
82
Karakavalasa
90
Shimiliguda
103
Araku
112
Gorapur
Andhra Pradesh
Odisha
125
Darliput
135
Padua
145
Bheja
156
Machhakunda
169
Paliba
177
Suku (SXV)
177
Suku (SUKU)
188
Koraput Junction
Left arrow to Rayagada
189
Koraput Cabin B
195
Manabar
204
Jarti
215
Maligura
222
Chattriput
229
Jeypore
238
Dhanapur Orissa
246
Khadapa
250
Charamula Kusum
261
Kotapur Road
Odisha
Chhattisgarh
269
Ambagaon
279
Amagura
287
Nakati Semra
293
Jagdalpur
Left arrow to Durg (planned)
302
Kumar Maranga
310
Topokal
316
Bade Arapur
327
Dilmili
338
Silak Jhori
347
Kumar Sadra
360
Kaklur
372
Kawargaon
381
Dabpal
392
Gidam
400
Dantewara
412
Kamalur
424
Bhansi
434
Bacheli
443
Kirandul
Manabar railway station in Koraput district.

Kothavalasa–Kirandul line belongs to Waltair railway division of East Coast Railway zone from 2003 till Feb 2019 . It was under South Eastern Railway zone until 2003. Now some Part of KK line till Araku railway Station will be coming under South Coast Railway zone and East Coast Railway after Gorapur Station. It passes through three states – Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Chhattisgarh.

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.[1] The Kothavalasa–Kirandaul line was opened in 1966–67 under S E Railway with financial aid of Japan for transporting iron ore.[2]

Geography

This line passes hill sections of Eastern Ghats through Araku Valley. 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.[3]

Jurisdiction

The line has a length of 445 km (277 mi),out of which 138 km (86 mi) lies in Andhra Pradesh up to Gorapur which will be joining South Coast Railway, rest of the line will remain in the Rayagada division of East Coast Railway 131 km (81 mi) lies in Odisha up to Khadapa, 194 km (121 mi) lies in Chhattisgarh up to Kirandul. The maximum route km being in Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh with Odisha taking 3rd position.[4] The Kothavalasa–Kirandul section is classified as a Group E-special class line in which speed should be below 100 km/h.[5]

Performance

This line is mainly used for freight purposes which is a huge profit benefitting Waltair Division. Nearly 3,000 crore (US$380 million) of profit comes through this line. Iron ore from Bailadila are transported to Visakhapatnam through this line.[6]

References

  1. Baral, Chitta. "History of Indian Railways in Orissa" (PDF). Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  2. "History of Waltair Division". Mannanna.com. Archived from the original on 11 October 2012. Retrieved 12 December 2013.
  3. "IR Electrification History". IRFCA. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
  4. "Doubling of line between Kirandul, Kothavalasa mooted". The Hindu. 7 March 2008. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
  5. "Chapter II – The Maintenance of Permanent Way". Retrieved 12 December 2013.
  6. "kirandul line news". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 13 December 2013.
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