East Coast Railway zone

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East Coast Railway
East Coast Railway Zone.webp
Indianrailwayzones-numbered.png
15-East Coast Railway
Overview
Headquarters Bhubaneswar
Locale Odisha
Chhattisgarh
Andhra Pradesh
Dates of operation1 April 2003;21 years ago (2003-04-01)–
Predecessor South Eastern Railway Zone
Technical
Track gauge 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm)
Electrification 25 kV 50 Hz AC
Other
Website eastcoastrail.indianrailways.gov.in

The East Coast Railway (abbreviated ECoR) is one of the 19 railway zones of Indian Railways. It came into existence on 1 April 2003. The headquarters of the zone are at Bhubaneswar, Odisha.

Contents

History

Consequent upon the parliament's approval, East Coast Railway was the first of the seven new zones to be inaugurated by the then Prime Minister of India H. D. Deve Gowda on 8 August 1996. The Officer-on-Special Duty took charge of the newly declared Zone on 16 September 1996. Initially, only one division namely Khurda Road was attached to this railway.

The zone became fully operational on 1 April 2003. The Waltair division was notified to be bifurcated from the East Coast Railway zone on 27 February 2019. The Odisha section of Waltair division will constitute the new Rayagada division, while the Andhra Pradesh section will be a part of the South Coast Railway zone upon operationalization. [1]

Divisions

The geographical jurisdiction of East Coast Railway zone extends over three states encompassing almost all of Odisha and Bastar, Mahasamund and Dantewada districts of Chhattisgarh and a minor part Palasa, Sompeta and seven other stations of Srikakulam district in Andhra Pradesh. The zonal headquarters is at Bhubaneswar in Odisha.

The zone has three divisions: Sambalpur, Khurda Road and Waltair.

The Rayagada railway division has been proposed to succeed a section of the existing Waltair division which will remain in the East Coast Railway zone upon bifurcation. [2]

Electrification

As of 31 December 2021, it is one of the three 100% electric railway zones in India. [3] The East Coast Railway line integrated with the commissioned Howrah-Chennai electrified trunk route on 29 November 2005. There was a missing link between Kharagpur and Visakhapatnam stations and all trains from Howrah towards Chennai side had to undergo a locomotive change from electric to diesel at Kharagpur and vice versa at Visakhapatnam in order to pass through Odisha. Even trains from New Delhi such as the Bhubaneswar Rajdhani had to undergo the change at Kharagpur. This frequent loco change on a trunk route became a time-consuming and inconvenient process. With electrification along the 765 km Kharagpur-Visakhapatnam stretch, trains got speeded up and the need for double headed diesels for high speed express trains was eliminated thus saving on diesel consumption and a cleaner travel. Additionally the line branching off Khurda road towards Puri was also electrified. Gradually the Cuttack-Angul line, Cuttack-Paradeep line and branch line from Jakhapura towards Barbil got electrified too.

Major railway stations

The major railway stations in the entire zone are Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Chatrapur, Puri, Sambalpur, Khurda Road, Balugaon, Rayagada, Brahmapur, Angul, Dhenkanal, Bhadrak, Balangir, Bargarh, Jajpur Keonjhar Road, Titilagarh, Kesinga, Lanjigarh, Koraput, Mahasamund, Jagdalpur, Kendujhargarh, Palasa and Barbil.

Most of the major stations fall in the state of Odisha, Chhattisgarh.

Rail infrastructure

Routes

East Coast Railway zone has about 273 railway stations with a track length of 5214 km spread as follows:-

DivisionTotal kilometreElectrified kilometre
TrackRouteTrackRoute-
Total5,2142,6773,3711,543

Railway lines

ECoR zone has below tracks. All are 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) broad gauge. The sections are:-

  1. Bhadrak-Bhubaneswar-Khurda Road- Double Electrified BG line [92 Railway stations]
  2. Talcher-Cuttack Double Electrified BG line [21 Railway stations]
  1. Titlagarh Junction-Mahasamund Single Electrified BG line [15 Railway stations] (Electric doubling of this line is currently underway)
  2. Cuttack-Paradip Double Electrified BG line [10 Railway stations]
  3. Khurda road-Puri Double Electrified BG line [11 Railway stations]
  4. Sambalpur Junction-Talcher Single Electrified BG line [16 Railway stations](Electric doubling of this line is currently underway)
  5. Titlagarh Junction-Sambalpur Junction Single Electrified BG line [16 Railway stations] (Electric doubling of this line is currently underway)
  6. Sambalpur Junction-Jharsuguda Junction Double Electrified BG line [10 Railway stations]
  7. Rayagada-Koraput Single Electric BG line [15 Railway stations]
  8. Naupada Junction-Gunupur Single Diesel BG line [14 Railway stations]
  9. Jakhapura Junction-Banspani Single Electrified BG line [17 Railway stations] (Electric doubling of this line is currently underway)

Loco sheds

See also

Related Research Articles

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Lingaraj Temple Road is a station located in Bhubaneswar city.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Howrah–Chennai main line</span> Railway route in India

The Howrah–Chennai main line is a railway line connecting Chennai and Kolkata cutting across Eastern Coastal Plains of India. It covers a distance of 1,661 kilometres (1,032 mi) across, West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jharsuguda–Vizianagaram line</span> Railway line in India

The Jharsuguda–Vizianagaram line is a railway line in eastern India. It connects Jharsuguda,516 km (321 mi) from Howrah on the Howrah–Nagpur–Mumbai line, and Titlagarh, which in turn is connected with Vizianagaram, 820 km (510 mi) from Howrah on the Howrah–Chennai main line, and Raipur Junction, 830 km (516 mi) from Howrah on the Howrah–Nagpur–Mumbai line. There are several branch lines, like the 176 km (109 mi) line connecting Rayagada with Koraput on the Kothavalasa–Kirandul line. The line traverses Western Odisha and connects the Howrah–Nagpur–Mumbai line with the Howrah–Chennai main line. It covers small portions of Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh.

Sambalpur railway station serves Sambalpur district in the Indian state of Odisha. It is a major railway junction in Odisha and headquarters of Sambalpur railway division. This railway station is the cleanest railway station of East Coast Railway declared by Indian Railway. There are four other railway stations serving Sambalpur, viz. Sambalpur Road railway station (SBPD), Sambalpur City railway station (SBPY), Hirakud (HKG), across the Mahanadi and Maneswar railway station (MANE). Locally this station is called Khetrajpur railway station since it is located in that area of the city. Sambalpur Junction is the oldest and one of the biggest and busiest railway stations of Odisha and East Coast Railway Division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kharagpur–Puri line</span> Railway route of India

The Kharagpur–Puri Line is a railway line connecting Kharagpur in the Indian state of West Bengal and Puri in Odisha. The total line can be divided into sections. The Kharagpur–Khurda Road portion of this line, which is a part of the Howrah–Chennai main line and Khurda Road - Puri portion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Khurda Road–Visakhapatnam section</span> Railway section in India

The Khurda Road–Visakhapatnam section is a railway line connecting Khurda Road in the Indian state of Odisha and Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh. The main line is part of the Howrah–Chennai main line.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tapaswini Express</span> Train in India

The 18451 / 18452 Tapaswini Express is daily Express train between Hatia and Puri. The train was the first Express train to be introduced with a route via Bhubaneswar, Dhenkanal, Talcher, Sambalpur. 18451UP departs Hatia at 15:55 and reaches Puri at 07:15 every day. The 18452DN departs Puri at 20:00 and reaches Hatia at 11:05 every day.

Angul railway station is a railway station which is about 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) from Angul. Satellite stations is Talcher road. Angul railway station has an electric loco shed of East Coast Railway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kothavalasa–Kirandul line</span> Railway route in India

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hirakhand Express</span> Train in India

Hirakhand Express is a daily express train which runs between Jagdalpur and Bhubaneswar. It was initially introduced between Sambalpur and Balangir. This train has seen several extension on both the ends and now running in a completely different route than its initial station of origin. First it was extended to run between Rourkela and Titlagarh, then between Rourkela and Rayagada, then between Rourkela and Bhubaneswar via Vijayanagaram but after completion of the Koraput-Rayagada link line connecting Jharsuguda-Vizianagaram line with Kothavalasa-Kirandul line, it was diverted to run between Koraput to Bhubaneswar. In 2010, it was further extended until Jagdalpur. It is operated by the East Coast Railway Zone of Indian Railways.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Puri–Ajmer Express</span> Train in India

The 20823 / 20824 Puri - Ajmer Express is an express train belonging to Indian Railways East Coast Railway zone that run between Puri and Ajmer Junction in India.

The Puri–Durg Express is an Express train belonging to East Coast Railway zone that runs between Durg Junction and Puri in India. It is currently being operated with 18425/18426 train numbers on a daily basis. This train was introduced as Bhubaneswar–Raipur express in 2006. In 2010 it was extended to Puri and Durg.

The Sambalpur–Puri Intercity Express is an Intercity train belonging to East Coast Railway zone that runs between Sambalpur Junction and Puri in India. It is currently being operated with 18303/18304 train numbers on a daily basis. It was introduced in 2002 and one of the oldest trains on Cuttack–Sambalpur line.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cuttack–Sambalpur line</span> Railway line in India

The Cuttack–Sambalpur line is a railway line connecting the cities of Cuttack with the Sambalpur, in the Indian state of Odisha.

South Coast Railway Zone (SCoR) has been announced as the newest railway zone of the Indian Railways and is headquartered at Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. The formal notification for operationalization of this Zone is yet to be issued.

Kotabommali railway station is a railway station on Khurda Road–Visakhapatnam section, part of the Howrah–Chennai main line under Waltair railway division of East Coast Railway zone. It is situated at Govindapuram in Kotabommali in Srikakulam district in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.

Harishchandrapuram railway station is a railway station on Khurda Road–Visakhapatnam section, part of the Howrah–Chennai main line under Waltair railway division of East Coast Railway zone. It is situated beside NH 16 at Nimmada, Harishchandrapuram in Srikakulam district in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.

Urlam railway station is a railway station on Khurda Road–Visakhapatnam section, part of the Howrah–Chennai main line under Waltair railway division of East Coast Railway zone. Urlam in Srikakulam district in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.

Ponduru railway station is a railway station on Khurda Road–Visakhapatnam section, part of the Howrah–Chennai main line under Waltair railway division of East Coast Railway zone. It is situated at Ponduru in Srikakulam district in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.

References

  1. ↑ "QUOTE ON ESTABLISHMENT OF SOUTH COAST RAILWAY _ RAILWAYS CLARIFIES". eastcoastrail.indianrailways.gov.in. 28 September 2022.
  2. ↑ "Delays dog new railway zone". The Hindu. 27 December 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  3. ↑ "Major Leap towards 100% Electrification: 3 Railway Zones of Indian Railways, i.e, West Central Railway, Kolkata Metro and East Coast Railway have been fully electrified, reducing carbon footprints". Twitter.com. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
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