"Odisha: ECoR Launches Freight Train Examination and ROH Facility"

The East Coast Railway (ECoR) has inaugurated a Freight Train Examination and Routine Overhauling (ROH) facility at Sarla Station in Sambalpur, according to ECoR sources recently.

The project, completed in June 2024, was executed by RITES Ltd. in collaboration with the Gati Shakti Unit (GSU) of the Sambalpur Division and involved an investment of approximately ₹200 crore. The new facility began freight train examinations on June 25, 2024, with the first ROH outturn achieved on August 13, 2024.

This development aims to enhance infrastructure and meet the increasing industrial demands of Western and Southern Odisha. The Sambalpur Division, known for its rapid growth, serves key industries in the region, including steel, aluminum, and coal. The Sarla station freight depot is expected to improve operational performance and support regional industrial growth.

The project includes a new G+1 station building, an ROH shed, an electric substation, various offices, a trainee hostel, and two examination lines, developed at a cost of ₹160 crore. Additionally, the GSU unit constructed an extra loop line and two freight examination lines at an approximate cost of ₹40 crore, with full electrification completed in August 2024.

The Sarla yard was upgraded with 64 new turnouts and 10.4 km of new tracks, alongside the conversion of PI to distributed EI of Kyosan make, with 195 routes commissioned. The facility is designed to handle 90-100 train examinations and ROH of 100 wagons monthly, significantly boosting loading performance, improving safety, and reducing the turnaround time of aluminum-carrying wagons by 30 percent.

Notably, the ROH and sick line operations are managed on a complete outsourcing model, with minimal department staff ensuring the efficient operation of the freight depot.

ET