New Delhi, Sept. 29 -- Indian Railways has approved Rs 122 crore for doubling the 6-km Barbil-Bolanikhadan section of South Eastern Railway to increase freight capacity and improve movement of iron ore to steel plants and ports.

The existing section is a single-line route carrying around 9 million tonnes per annum (MTPA), including about six loaded iron ore rakes per day. The traffic comprises high-grade ore and pellets from SAIL's Bolani mines and private sidings operated by Rungta and Khatau Narbheram.

The doubling project is expected to facilitate an additional 8.9 MTPA of freight traffic after commissioning and reduce delays to freight trains.

The Barbil-Bolanikhadan section has been identified under Indian Railways' Energy, Minera...