Ensuring faster evacuation of the coal and other minerals from mines, the Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd (MCL) has decided to build new rail line between Jharsuguda and Sardega (in Sundargarh district) to evacuate enhanced quantity of coal from Basundhara Area of MCL in Hemgir block is likely to start operation shortly. The new rail line project worth Rs.1,044 crore is being implemented on a war-footing amid MCL‘s plan to produce and evacuate 100 million tons of coal from Sundargarh over the next five years, said MCL sources, adding that without rail transport infrastructure, coal dispatch to various distant destinations of the country could not be achieved at a desired pace. Accordingly, MCL has started laying the rail line between Jharsuguda and Sardega to directly link the Gopalpur-Manohar coal block in Basundhara Area having huge coal reserves. The single line project with auto signaling system four intermediate stations in Jharsuguda and Sundargarh districts will cover 50.30 km from Jharsuguda to Sardega via Barpali will be able to dispatch 34.23 MTPA.
