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The East Coast Railway (abbreviated ECoR) is one of the 19 railway zones of
Indian Railways
Indian Railways (IR) is a statutory body under the ownership of Ministry of Railways, Government of India that operates India's national railway system. It manages the fourth largest national railway system in the world by size, with a tota ...
. It came into existence on 1 April 2003. The headquarters of the zone are at
Bhubaneswar
Bhubaneswar (; ) is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Odisha. The region, especially the old town, was historically often depicted as ''Ekamra Kshetra'' (area (''kshetra'') adorned with mango trees (''ekamra'')). Bhubaneswar is ...
,
Odisha
Odisha (English: , ), formerly Orissa ( the official name until 2011), is an Indian state located in Eastern India. It is the 8th largest state by area, and the 11th largest by population. The state has the third largest population of ...
History
Consequent upon the parliament's approval, East Coast Railway was the first of the seven new zones to be inaugurated by the then Prime Minister of India
H. D. Deve Gowda
Haradanahalli Doddegowda Deve Gowda (; born 18 May 1933 in) is an Indian politician from the state of Karnataka. He served as the 11th prime minister of India from 1 June 1996 to 21 April 1997. He was previously the 14th Chief Minister of Karn ...
on 8 August 1996. The Officer-on-Special Duty took over charge of the newly declared Zone on 16 September 1996. Initially, only one division namely Khurda Road was attached to this railway.
Subsequently, the zone became fully operational on 1 April 2003. The Waltair division was notified to be bifurcated from the East Coast Railway zone on 27 February 2019. The Odisha section of Waltair division will constitute the new Rayagada division, while the Andhra Pradesh section will be a part of the
South Coast Railway zone
South Coast Railway Zone (SCoR) has been announced as the newest railway zone of the Indian Railways and is headquartered at Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. The formal notification for operationalization of this Zone is yet to be issued.
Jur ...
upon operationalization.
Divisions
The geographical jurisdiction of East Coast Railway zone extends over three states encompassing almost all of
Odisha
Odisha (English: , ), formerly Orissa ( the official name until 2011), is an Indian state located in Eastern India. It is the 8th largest state by area, and the 11th largest by population. The state has the third largest population of ...
and
Bastar,
Mahasamund
Mahasamund City is a city in Mahasamund District in the Indian state of Chhattisgarh.It is situated on the Mumbai-Kolkata and Raipur-Vishakhaptnam National Highways. It is one of the largest (ranked 13th) and most important cities in the State ...
and
Dantewada
Dantewada (also known as Dantewara) is a town and a municipality, or nagar palika. in the Dantewada district in the state of Chhattisgarh, India.It is the administrative headquarters of Dantewada District. It is the fourth largest city of Bastar ...
districts of
Chhattisgarh and a minor part
Palasa_railway_station">Palasa
_
Palasa_is_a_town_in__Srikakulam_district_of_the_Indian_state_of_Andhra_Pradesh._It_is_a_municipality_and_the_mandal_headquarters_of_Palasa__mandal._It_is_located_near_to_the_National_Highway_16_between__Srikakulam_and_Berhampur._Along_with_its__...
,_Sompeta_railway_station.html" ;"title="Palasa_railway_station.html" "title="nowiki/>Palasa railway station">Palasa
Palasa is a town in Srikakulam district of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is a municipality and the mandal headquarters of Palasa mandal. It is located near to the National Highway 16 between Srikakulam and Berhampur. Along with its ...
, Sompeta railway station">Sompeta and seven other stations] of Srikakulam district in Andhra Pradesh. The zonal headquarters is at Bhubaneswar in Odisha.
The zone has three divisions: Sambalpur railway division, Sambalpur, Khurda Road railway division, Khurda Road and
Waltair railway division, Waltair.
The Rayagada railway division has been proposed to succeed a section of the existing Waltair division which will remain in the East Coast Railway zone upon bifurcation.
Electrification
As of 31 December 2021, it is one of the three 100% electric railway zones in India.
The East Coast Railway line integrated with the commissioned
Howrah-Chennai electrified trunk route on 29 November 2005. There was a missing link between
Kharagpur
Kharagpur () is a planned urban agglomeration and a major industrial city in Paschim Medinipur district of West Bengal, India. It is the headquarters of the Kharagpur subdivision. It is the largest, most populated, multicultural and cosmopol ...
and
Visakhapatnam
, image_alt =
, image_caption = From top, left to right: Visakhapatnam aerial view, Vizag seaport, Simhachalam Temple, Aerial view of Rushikonda Beach, Beach road, Novotel Visakhapatnam, INS Kursura submarine museu ...
stations and all trains from Howrah towards Chennai side had to undergo a locomotive change from electric to diesel at Kharagpur and vice versa at Visakhapatnam in order to pass through Odisha. Even trains from New Delhi such as the
Bhubaneswar Rajdhani had to undergo the change at Kharagpur. This frequent loco change on a trunk route became a time-consuming and inconvenient process. With electrification along the 765 km Kharagpur-Visakhapatnam stretch, trains got speeded up and the need for double headed diesels for high speed express trains was eliminated thus saving on diesel consumption and a cleaner travel. Additionally the line branching off Khurda road towards Puri was also electrified. Gradually the Cuttack-Angul line, Cuttack-Paradeep line and branch line from Jakhapura towards Barbil got electrified too.
Major railway stations
The major railway stations in the entire zone are
Bhubaneswar
Bhubaneswar (; ) is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Odisha. The region, especially the old town, was historically often depicted as ''Ekamra Kshetra'' (area (''kshetra'') adorned with mango trees (''ekamra'')). Bhubaneswar is ...
,
Cuttack
Cuttack (, or officially Kataka ) in Odia is the former capital and the second largest city in the Indian state of Odisha. It is the headquarters of the Cuttack district. The name of the city is an anglicised form of ''Kataka'' which literally ...
,
Chatrapur
Chhatrapur (also spelt as Chhatarpur) is a town and a Notified Area Council since 1955 in Ganjam district in the state of Odisha, India. It is the district headquarters town of Ganjam district. Chhatrapur is a Tehsil / Block (CD) in the Ganja ...
,
Puri
Puri () is a coastal city and a municipality in the state of Odisha in eastern India. It is the district headquarters of Puri district and is situated on the Bay of Bengal, south of the state capital of Bhubaneswar. It is also known as '' ...
,
Sambalpur
Sambalpur () is the fifth largest city in the Indian State of Odisha. It is located on the banks of river Mahanadi, with a population of 335,761 (as per 2011 census). Prehistoric settlements have been recorded there. It is the home of the Sam ...
,
Khurda Road
Jatni (or Khurda Road, Name of the Railway Station) is a town and a major sub-urban area of Bhubaneswar, the state capital of Odisha. It is also a municipality in Khordha district in the Indian state of Odisha.
Jatni, also known as Khurda Road ...
,
Balugaon,
Rayagada
Rayagada is a municipality in Rayagada district in the Indian state of Odisha. It is the administrative headquarters of Rayagada district.
History
The city of Rayagada was founded by King Vishwanath Dev Gajapati (1527-1531 CE) of the Suryava ...
,
Brahmapur,
Angul,
Dhenkanal,
Bhadrak
Bhadrak is a city of Odisha state in eastern India. The city is the district headquarters of Bhadrak district. According to legend, the city derives its name from the Goddess Bhadrakali, whose temple is on the banks of the Salandi River.
Hi ...
,
Balangir
Balangir also known as Bolangir, is a city and municipality, the headquarters of Balangir district in the state of Odisha, India. Balangir has one of the best cultural heritage in India. It is also known as one of the finest places for tourists ...
,
Jajpur Keonjhar Road,
Titilagarh,
Koraput
Koraput is a town and a Municipality in Koraput district in the Indian state of Odisha. Koraput town is the district headquarter of Koraput district.
History
The district of Koraput derives its name from its headquarters the present town of ...
,
Mahasamund
Mahasamund City is a city in Mahasamund District in the Indian state of Chhattisgarh.It is situated on the Mumbai-Kolkata and Raipur-Vishakhaptnam National Highways. It is one of the largest (ranked 13th) and most important cities in the State ...
,
Jagdalpur,
Kendujhargarh,
Palasa
Palasa is a town in Srikakulam district of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is a municipality and the mandal headquarters of Palasa mandal. It is located near to the National Highway 16 between Srikakulam and Berhampur. Along with its ...
and
Barbil
Barbil is a city and a Municipal Council in the Kendujhar district (also known as Iron City) of the state of Odisha, India. The region around Barbil has one of the largest deposits of iron ore and manganese ore in the world. It is a major sour ...
.
Most of the major stations fall in the state of
Odisha
Odisha (English: , ), formerly Orissa ( the official name until 2011), is an Indian state located in Eastern India. It is the 8th largest state by area, and the 11th largest by population. The state has the third largest population of ...
,
Chhattisgarh.
Gallery
Rail infrastructure
* Electric Loco Shed –
Angul
* Carriage Repair Workshop –
Mancheswar, Bhubaneswar
* MEMU Shed –
Khurda Road
Jatni (or Khurda Road, Name of the Railway Station) is a town and a major sub-urban area of Bhubaneswar, the state capital of Odisha. It is also a municipality in Khordha district in the Indian state of Odisha.
Jatni, also known as Khurda Road ...
Routes
East Coast Railway zone has about 273 railway stations with a track length of 5214 km spread as follows:-
Railway lines
ECoR zone has below tracks. All are
broad gauge. The sections are:-
#
Bhadrak
Bhadrak is a city of Odisha state in eastern India. The city is the district headquarters of Bhadrak district. According to legend, the city derives its name from the Goddess Bhadrakali, whose temple is on the banks of the Salandi River.
Hi ...
-
Bhubaneswar
Bhubaneswar (; ) is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Odisha. The region, especially the old town, was historically often depicted as ''Ekamra Kshetra'' (area (''kshetra'') adorned with mango trees (''ekamra'')). Bhubaneswar is ...
-
Khurda Road
Jatni (or Khurda Road, Name of the Railway Station) is a town and a major sub-urban area of Bhubaneswar, the state capital of Odisha. It is also a municipality in Khordha district in the Indian state of Odisha.
Jatni, also known as Khurda Road ...
- Double Electrified BG line
2 Railway stations#
Talcher
Talcher is one of the 4 sub-divisions of Angul district in the Indian state of Odisha.
History
During the British Raj Talcher was the capital of Talcher State, one of the princely states of the Eastern States Agency.Malleson, G. B.: ''An his ...
-
Cuttack
Cuttack (, or officially Kataka ) in Odia is the former capital and the second largest city in the Indian state of Odisha. It is the headquarters of the Cuttack district. The name of the city is an anglicised form of ''Kataka'' which literally ...
Double Electrified BG line
1 Railway stations
#
Titlagarh Junction
Titilagarh Junction railway station (station code:- TIG) is a major railway junction located in the Indian state of Odisha, and serves Titilagarh in Balangir district.
People from nearby villages (such as Sindhekela, Kholan, Naren, Parasara, C ...
-
Mahasamund
Mahasamund City is a city in Mahasamund District in the Indian state of Chhattisgarh.It is situated on the Mumbai-Kolkata and Raipur-Vishakhaptnam National Highways. It is one of the largest (ranked 13th) and most important cities in the State ...
Single Electrified BG line
5 Railway stations(Electric doubling of this line is currently underway)
#
Cuttack
Cuttack (, or officially Kataka ) in Odia is the former capital and the second largest city in the Indian state of Odisha. It is the headquarters of the Cuttack district. The name of the city is an anglicised form of ''Kataka'' which literally ...
-
Paradip
Paradeep, also spelt Paradip (originally Paradweep, also spelt Paradwip), is a major seaport city and municipality, from Jagatsinghpur city in Jagatsinghpur district of Odisha, India. Paradeep Municipality was constituted as an NAC on 27 Sep ...
Double Electrified BG line
0 Railway stations#
Khurda road
Jatni (or Khurda Road, Name of the Railway Station) is a town and a major sub-urban area of Bhubaneswar, the state capital of Odisha. It is also a municipality in Khordha district in the Indian state of Odisha.
Jatni, also known as Khurda Road ...
-
Puri
Puri () is a coastal city and a municipality in the state of Odisha in eastern India. It is the district headquarters of Puri district and is situated on the Bay of Bengal, south of the state capital of Bhubaneswar. It is also known as '' ...
Double Electrified BG line
1 Railway stations#
Sambalpur Junction-
Talcher
Talcher is one of the 4 sub-divisions of Angul district in the Indian state of Odisha.
History
During the British Raj Talcher was the capital of Talcher State, one of the princely states of the Eastern States Agency.Malleson, G. B.: ''An his ...
Single Electrified BG line
6 Railway stations
6 (six) is the natural number following 5 and preceding 7. It is a composite number and the smallest perfect number.
In mathematics
Six is the smallest positive integer which is neither a square number nor a prime number; it is the second small ...
Electric doubling of this line is currently underway)
#
Titlagarh Junction
Titilagarh Junction railway station (station code:- TIG) is a major railway junction located in the Indian state of Odisha, and serves Titilagarh in Balangir district.
People from nearby villages (such as Sindhekela, Kholan, Naren, Parasara, C ...
-
Sambalpur Junction Single Electrified BG line
6 Railway stations
6 (six) is the natural number following 5 and preceding 7. It is a composite number and the smallest perfect number.
In mathematics
Six is the smallest positive integer which is neither a square number nor a prime number; it is the second small ...
(Electric doubling of this line is currently underway)
#
Sambalpur Junction-
Jharsuguda Junction Double Electrified BG line
0 Railway stations
#
Rayagada
Rayagada is a municipality in Rayagada district in the Indian state of Odisha. It is the administrative headquarters of Rayagada district.
History
The city of Rayagada was founded by King Vishwanath Dev Gajapati (1527-1531 CE) of the Suryava ...
-
Koraput
Koraput is a town and a Municipality in Koraput district in the Indian state of Odisha. Koraput town is the district headquarter of Koraput district.
History
The district of Koraput derives its name from its headquarters the present town of ...
Single Electric BG line
5 Railway stations#
Naupada Junction-
Gunupur
Gunupur is a Municipality and one of the sub-divisional headquarters of Rayagada district in the Indian state of Odisha. It is the second biggest town in Rayagada district.
History
Gunupur was one of the important centers in the erstwhile Jeypo ...
Single Diesel BG line
4 Railway stations
4 (four) is a number, numeral (linguistics), numeral and numerical digit, digit. It is the natural number following 3 and preceding 5. It is the smallest semiprime and composite number, and is tetraphobia, considered unlucky in many East Asian c ...
#
Jakhapura Junction
Jakhapura Junction railway station is a railway station on the East Coast Railway network in the state of Odisha, India. It serves Jakhapura village. Its code is JKPR. It has three platforms. Passenger, Express trains halt at Jakhapura Junction ...
-
Banspani
Banspani railway station (BSPX) serves Joda, the mining city of the Indian state of Odisha and it is the junction point and also a major freight loading point of the South Eastern Railway zone of the Indian Railways.
Recently the Indian Railw ...
Single Electrified BG line
7 Railway stations(Electric doubling of this line is currently underway)
Loco sheds
*
Electric Loco Shed, Visakhapatnam
Electric Loco Shed, Visakhapatnam is a motive power depot performing locomotive maintenance and repair facility for electric locomotives of the Indian Railways, located at Visakhapatnam of the East Coast Railway zone in Andhra Pradesh, India.
...
*
Electric Loco Shed, Angul
Electric Loco Shed, Angul is a motive power depot performing locomotive maintenance and repair facility for electric locomotives of the Indian Railways, located at Angul of the East Coast Railway zone in Odisha, India. It is one of the two ele ...
*
Diesel Loco Shed, Visakhapatnam
Diesel Loco Shed, Visakhapatnam is an engine shed located in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh in India. Diesel Locomotive Shed, Visakhapatnam (DLS/VSKP) was established on 2 May 1965 with a holding of 13 WDM 1 Locomotives to meet the traffic needs ...
External links
East Coast Railway Official Website Khurda Road Division Sambalpur Division Waltair Division
See also
*
All India Station Masters' Association (AISMA)
*
Zones and divisions of Indian Railways
Indian Railways divides its operations into zones, which are further sub-divided into divisions, each having a divisional headquarters. There are a total of 19 zones (including Metro Railway, Kolkata) and 70 Divisions on Indian Railway System. E ...
*
Indian Railway Signal Maintainers Union (IRSTMU)
*
South Coast Railway
References
{{Indian Railways
Zones of Indian Railways
Rail transport in Odisha
Rail transport in Andhra Pradesh
2003 establishments in India