Barkheda-Budhni third rail line trial conducted
| Date :10-Dec-2023 |
Staff Reporter
Manoj Arora, Railway Safety Commissioner, Central Railway, Mumbai, inspected the Barkheda-Budhni third line (26.50 km) situated on Bhopal-Itarsi track under West Central Railway on Saturday. While visiting the site, Arora checked the railway track safety, resources, OHE line, related equipment and signalling. He also tested the capacity of equipment. During his visit, trial run of train was done on Barkheda-Budhni third line with electricity locomotive at 95 kmph of speed. After being satisfied with the quality of work, he granted permission to run the train on this track for 75 kmph. Though trial was done for 95 kmph of speed but final permission of running train on this track has been given for 75 kmph. Divisional Railway Manager, Bhopal, Devashish Tripathi, WCR Chief Administrative Officer (construction) Manoj Kumar Agrawal, Chief Engineer R K Rajput and other senior officials were present during the trial run of train.
There are 13 main bridges, 49 small bridges and 7 tunnel in this block. The area has been constructed under strict terms and conditions as it comes under Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary. The area comes under eco-sensitive zone due to which construction work has been done carefully. Construction work of 233 km Bina to Itarsi third line has been completed on Bina-Bhopal-Itarsi track. After starting the third line on this track, train commutation will be easy. Construction work of railway third line on this track (under Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary) has been done by Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL). While visiting the construction site, railway officials also talked about the safety provisions of animals, bridges and sky walks.
The tunnel has been constructed with special features that require minimum maintenance, water supply and sufficient light. RVNL is working on project to complete the animal bridges to minimise incidents of trains running over wildlife. The project was earlier targeted to complete by year December 2023. RVNL has constructed five tunnels for the third railway line in the area. Midghat section of railway has become a ‘suicide point of the majestic’ due to numerous deaths of tigers. Decision of making animal bridges on same locality was taken jointly by forest department and railway authorities during year 2016-17 when death toll of tigers mounted highest. The railway track passes through Ratapani Sanctuary. Every year three to four tigers lose their life while crossing the track. The tunnel is being constructed so that animals can safely cross the track without any casualty.