New Delhi: Indian Railways approved the ₹272 crore Adra bypass line project to improve freight movement and reduce congestion in South Eastern Railway.
The 11 km line will connect the Adra end with Joychandipahar. It will provide a dedicated path and a bi-directional link to the upcoming third line.
As a result, the project will support an expected movement of 6.065 freight rakes each day. It will also help meet the expected rise in industrial traffic along the corridor.
The Adra bypass line will support freight linked to SAIL’s iron ore demand of 23.40 MTPA. It will also cater to BCCL’s projection of 45 freight rakes per day.
The existing network faces operational pressure due to surface crossings and freight movement. Network utilisation currently stands at 71%, while crossing conflicts affect freight speeds.
The new route will remove key operational bottlenecks on the Adra-Joychandipahar section. It will also reduce delays caused by surface crossings and create smoother movement for freight trains.
Adra bypass line to support industrial freight growth
The project is expected to handle an additional 8.88 MTPA of traffic after completion. Meanwhile, the current line capacity of the Joychandipahar-Adra section stands at 47.50%.
Indian Railways expects that capacity to rise to 56.45% by 2028-29. Therefore, the new link will provide room for further freight growth as industrial demand increases.
The bypass forms part of the Energy, Mineral and Cement Corridor identified by Indian Railways. This corridor plays an important role in moving key industrial commodities across the rail network.
By adding capacity, the project will help freight trains move more efficiently through the section. It will also reduce conflicts between freight operations and surface crossings.
The Adra-Joychandipahar-Sanka bypass will create a more reliable freight route for the region. At the same time, it will help Indian Railways handle rising industrial traffic without adding further pressure to the existing section.
The project will also strengthen the wider freight infrastructure supporting energy, mineral and cement traffic. Improved rail capacity can help future traffic growth translate into higher freight throughput.
Overall, the ₹272 crore investment will add capacity, ease congestion and improve freight operations on the strategically important corridor.
