Indian Railway journey through tunnels and viaducts : Koraput-Rayagada

Koraput Rayagada line was constructed under the Dandakaranya-Bolangir-Kiriburu (DBK) project and was completed at the end of 1998.The branch line between Koraput and Rayagada in southern Odisha is connected to the Raipur-Titlagarh and Jharsuguda-Titlagarh route which in turn connects the mineral reserves of Odisha and Chattisgarh to the thermal power projects of Odisha and to the port of Visakhapatnam(via Vizianagaram).The alumina refinery plant of NALCO played a major role in the electrification of 19 km stretch between Koraput and Damanjodi long back in 1988-89.The 173 km distance between Koraput and Rayagada is one of the picturesque route of Indian Railways charecterized by hills and thick forests,36 tunnels with the longest one of length 1599 meter and numerous viaducts.After Kolab reservoir Laxmipur Pattangi hill ranges accompanied us upto Tikiri and after that Rayagada Kashipur hill ranges continued upto Singapuram road along the descending ghat section .The forests comprises of Saal,Segun,teak etc and inhabited by elephants migrated from Niyamagiri hill ranges of Kalahandi district.My dear friend and fellow railfan Pramit Mitra can be seen in action.A WDM3D from Bondamunda was in charge of our Howrah bound Samaleswari Express.