Train Capacity Doubling: We’re expanding coaching terminals, enhancing sectional and operational capacities in various cities to meet rising passenger demand and reduce congestion. This move will upgrade our railway network and improve nationwide connectivity” – Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister of Railways, Information & Broadcasting, and Electronics & Information Technology In view of the rapid sustained growth in demand for travel, the capacity of major cities under East Coast Railway to originate new trains needs to be doubled from the current level in the next 5 years.
The current infrastructure at Bhubaneswar, Puri and Visakhapatnam serving passenger needs is being augmented to meet the requirements of upcoming years.
The works for doubling the originating capacity by the year 2030 in these cities would include the following actions:
- Augmenting the current terminals with additional platforms, stabling lines, pit lines, and adequate shunting facilities
- Identifying and creating new terminals in and around the urban areas
- Developing maintenance facilities, including mega coaching complexes
- Increasing the sectional capacity with traffic facility works, signaling upgradation, and multitracking required for handling increased trains at various points
While planning for increasing capacity of terminals at Bhubaneswar, Puri and Visakhapatnam, nearby stations will also be considered so that capacity is evenly balanced. For example:
- At Puri, two additional full-length Integrated Pit Lines are under construction to supplement the existing six; the entire coaching maintenance facility is proposed to be shifted to a new second coaching terminal depot on the sanctioned Puri-Konark new line (Final Location Survey proposed), and a large-scale coaching complex is planned on this line.
- At Bhubaneswar, the new Bhubaneswar New Station is being developed as a satellite coaching terminal with a maintenance facility of two pit lines at Mancheswar and dedicated connectivity; due to space constraints new depots are proposed in nearby areas.
- At Visakhapatnam, a DPR for yard modification providing five additional lines, six additional passenger platforms, ten stabling lines and Electronic Interlocking is under consideration of Railway Board; Jaganadhpuram station on the proposed Kottavalasa-Anakapalle bypass line is being planned as a mega coaching maintenance depot and large-scale complex to serve as satellite station.
To support increased train volumes, multiple sectional capacity enhancement projects are progressing, including automatic block signalling and flyovers in Puri area; pit line electrification, safety fencing, fourth lines and bypass surveys in Bhubaneswar area and several third/fourth/fifth/sixth lines, flyovers and bypass projects in Visakhapatnam area.
A comprehensive plan covering Bhubaneswar, Puri and Visakhapatnam among the 48 major cities identified by Indian Railways is under implementation. The plan includes works already sanctioned, under progress or proposed to achieve the goal of doubling train-handling capacity in a time-bound manner.
While the plan to double the capacity is by 2030, capacity will be increased progressively over the next five years, ensuring that the benefits of capacity addition are realized immediately.
This will help in meeting the traffic requirement progressively over the years. The plan will classify actions under three categories, i.e., immediate, short-term, and long-term.
The proposed plans will be specific, with clear timelines and defined outcomes. East Coast Railway is planning to increase train handling capacity across its divisions, ensuring that not only terminal capacity at Bhubaneswar, Puri and Visakhapatnam is enhanced but also sectional capacity and operational constraints at stations and yards are effectively addressed.
