Odisha’s Mineral Transport Network Set for Upgrade

Bhubaneswar: The Angul–Sukinda rail project received a major financial boost with the signing of a Rs 2,539-crore refinancing agreement between the project authorities and the Indian Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC). The deal was formalised by project Managing Director Dillip Kumar Samantaray and IRFC Executive Director Deepa Kotnis.

Spanning 113.4 km, the rail link is being executed through a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) comprising Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL), Container Corporation of India Limited (CONCOR), the Odisha government, and private partners.

As a crucial freight corridor, it will link two key industrial and mining belts, enabling efficient transport of coal, iron ore, steel, and other raw materials. The project is also expected to reduce heavy vehicle congestion on roads, lower transportation costs, and promote sustainable economic growth in Odisha’s mineral-rich regions once operational.