Railways Approves Rs 122-Crore Doubling Of Barbil-Bolanikhadan Section In Odisha

Keonjhar, Sept. 29 (UDN): Indian Railways has approved the doubling of the 6-km Barbil-Bolanikhadan railway section in Odisha at an estimated cost of Rs 122 crore, aimed at expanding freight capacity on one of the state’s key mineral transportation routes.

 Representational Image 

The project, under the South Eastern Railway, is expected to facilitate an additional 8.9 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of freight movement once commissioned and help reduce delays in the operation of freight trains.

Single-Line Route Handles Heavy Mineral Traffic

The Barbil-Bolanikhadan stretch is currently a single-line section carrying around 9 MTPA of freight.

The route handles nearly six loaded rakes of iron ore every day, with high-grade iron ore and pellets forming a major share of the freight traffic.

The material is transported from SAIL’s Bolani mines and private sidings, including those operated by Rungta and Khatau Narbheram, to steel plants and ports.

Capacity Expansion To Support Industry

The section has been identified under Indian Railways’ Energy, Mineral and Cement Corridor, making the doubling project significant for mineral and industrial freight movement in the region.

Railway authorities expect the additional track to ease congestion and improve the movement of freight trains, particularly as mining activities and industrial capacity expand.

The project is also expected to strengthen rail connectivity between mineral-producing areas, industrial units and ports, supporting the movement of raw materials and finished products.

Additional 8.9 MTPA Freight Capacity

With the second line in place, the railway section is projected to handle an additional 8.9 MTPA of freight.

The capacity enhancement is expected to help address anticipated pressure on the existing single-line route arising from planned expansion of mining operations, steel production and port-related activities.

The doubling of the short but strategically important stretch is thus expected to provide additional rail capacity for Odisha’s mineral-rich Keonjhar region and facilitate more efficient freight transportation.

Thunderstorm Alert: IMD Issues 3-Day Yellow Warning For 14 Odisha Districts

Bhubaneswar, Sept. 29 (UDN): The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a three-day yellow warning for thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds in 14 districts of Odisha, beginning Tuesday and continuing through October 2.

 Representational Image 

The weather advisory covers isolated locations across the identified districts, where surface winds may reach speeds of 30 to 40 kmph during thunderstorm activity.

Yellow Warning Till September 30

For Day-1, valid until 8:30 am on September 30, thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty surface winds of 30-40 kmph are likely at one or two places in:

Baleshwar, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Sundargarh, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, Khordha and Nayagarh.

Alert Continues Through October 1

The same weather conditions are expected during Day-2, from 8:30 am on September 30 to 8:30 am on October 1.

The IMD has forecast thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds reaching 30-40 kmph at one or two places in the same 14 districts.

Similar Warning On October 1-2

For Day-3, from 8:30 am on October 1 to 8:30 am on October 2, the IMD has maintained the yellow warning for the same districts.

Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty surface winds of up to 30-40 kmph may occur at one or two places during this period.

Residents in the warned districts have been advised to remain alert during thunderstorm activity and follow local weather advisories.

Puri Srimandir To Suspend Darshan For Four Hours On September 30 For Banakalagi

Puri, Sept. 29 (UDN): Public darshan at the Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri will remain suspended for around four hours on Wednesday, September 30, to facilitate the Banakalagi Niti of the Holy Trinity.

 Representational Image 

The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), in a notification, said the special ritual will be performed on Ashwin Krushna Chaturthi Tithi. Accordingly, devotees will not be allowed darshan from 6 pm to 10 pm after completion of the second Bhoga Mandapa offering.

Banakalagi Niti At Srimandir

Banakalagi, also known as Srimukha Sringara, is a significant ritual during which the facial features of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra and Lord Sudarshan are given a fresh coat of natural colours.

The ritual is performed on the deities seated on the Ratna Singhasana and is traditionally carried out by the Dutta Mohapatra servitors.

Darshan Suspended During Ritual

The Banakalagi ritual is performed in a secluded manner, with the temple doors closed to devotees while the sacred face decoration is undertaken.

The ritual generally takes around four to five hours. During this period, public darshan remains suspended and only authorised Dutta Mohapatra servitors participate in the ritual.

The term Banakalagi is traditionally associated with Bana, meaning forest, and Lagi, meaning to apply, reflecting the ritual’s traditional use of natural colours and materials.

The ritual is generally performed twice a month, on a Wednesday or Thursday, according to the temple’s established ritual schedule.

Devotees planning to visit Srimandir on Wednesday evening have been advised to take note of the temporary suspension of darshan between 6 pm and 10 pm.

Huawei Launches Intelligent RAIL 2.0 to Accelerate Global Railway Intelligence Upgrade

BERLIN, Sept. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — At InnoTrans 2026, the world’s largest rail transport exhibition held from September 22 to 25, Huawei unveiled Intelligent RAIL 2.0, a new generation of solutions designed to provide multi-scenario intelligent solutions for the global rail industry. The launch event brought together industry organizations such as UIC (International Union of Railways) and UITP (International Association of Public Transport), along with global customers and ecosystem partners, to explore the future of the industry.

Jean-Michel Evanghelou, Director Digital Systems & Innovation, and Financial Control & Project Operations from UIC, stated that FRMCS will be the first step for rail operators to build a solid digital foundation. He added that AI applications will continue to deepen and integrate into the core systems of the rail industry, making the standardization of AI applications increasingly important.

Mohamed Mezghani, Secretary-General of UITP, and Lidia Signor, Head of Multimodal Transport at UITP, also attended the event. Lidia Signor delivered a speech titled “Global Metro AI Intelligence and Automation,” highlighting that UITP, in collaboration with the China Association of Metro (CAMET), has released a research report titled “AI-Driven Smart Rail Transport.” The report showcases how AI solutions have been deployed in various systems, including metro construction, operation, and maintenance, improving the operational efficiency and safety levels of rail transport systems.

In his keynote speech, Raymond Zuo, President of Huawei’s Smart Rail BU, pointed out that as human society enters the era of intelligence, more and more stakeholders are exploring ways to integrate digital and intelligent technologies into their core business processes to address traditional pain points. Looking at the trends, infrastructure will evolve from GSM-R to FRMCS, equipment maintenance will shift toward condition-based and predictive maintenance, freight will develop toward an end-to-end service-oriented logistics model that includes multimodal transport, passenger services will move toward seamless travel experiences, and engineering construction will increasingly adopt digital and intelligent technologies to enhance safety and operational efficiency.

Based on its innovative practices with leading global customers, Huawei has creatively proposed the “intelligent RAIL” innovation strategy. This strategy leverages digital and intelligent technologies to continuously enhance railway safety (Reliable), efficiency (Automated), integrated services (Integrated-serviced), and long-term evolution (Long-termed). Additionally, by defining key technologies across generations, Huawei has launched the new generation of intelligent RAIL 2.0 at this conference, which includes 20 scenario-based solutions. These solutions focus on three core areas—construction, passenger and freight transportation, and facility and equipment maintenance—addressing long-standing industry challenges and pain points. These scenario-based solutions are jointly developed by Huawei and its partners, with Huawei focusing on communication and digital platforms, and partners specializing in industry applications, to provide modular and combinable solutions tailored to the needs of industry customers based on specific business scenarios.

To date, Huawei has served more than 50 major railway customers worldwide and over 300 urban rail lines, covering more than 180,000 kilometers of track. Huawei is not only a leading global provider of ICT products but also a trusted partner for digital transformation in the intelligent era. Looking ahead, Huawei will continue to implement its “platform + ecosystem” strategy, working together with global customers and partners to deepen industry collaboration, gain insights into the evolving technological trends in the rail industry, and promote the deep integration of cutting-edge technologies with rail scenarios. By continuously iterating and innovating its solutions, Huawei aims to empower global rail transportation to move toward a safer, more efficient, and greener intelligent future.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/huawei-launches-intelligent-rail-2-0-to-accelerate-global-railway-intelligence-upgrade-302892708.html

Odisha Congress Announces Statewide Bandh On October 8 Over MMDR Amendment Act

Bhubaneswar, Sept. 29 (UDN): The Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) has announced a statewide bandh on October 8 to demand the withdrawal of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2026, intensifying its ongoing agitation over the legislation.

 Representational Image 

OPCC president Bhakta Charan Das made the announcement on Tuesday, saying the bandh would be observed across Odisha following a protest programme in Kendujhar.

Congress Seeks Support From INDIA Bloc Parties

Das said the party would continue its agitation against the amended mining legislation and appealed to constituents of the INDIA bloc, including the CPI, CPI(M), Samajwadi Party and other parties, to extend support to the proposed bandh.

“This protest will continue. On October 8, following the protest in Kendujhar, an Odisha bandh will be observed,” Das said while appealing to people across the state to participate in the programme.

The OPCC president reiterated the Congress’ demand for withdrawal of the amended MMDR legislation.

Agitation To Continue

The October 8 bandh is part of a series of programmes announced by the Odisha Congress against the MMDR Amendment Act. The party had earlier announced plans for a statewide bandh and a seven-day economic blockade after Dussehra as part of its agitation.

Das also alleged that the BJP-led government had betrayed the people of Odisha. The allegation is part of the Congress’ political opposition to the amended legislation.

The MMDR Amendment Act has emerged as a major point of contention in Odisha, with opposition parties, including Congress and BJD, repeatedly demanding its withdrawal and staging protests inside and outside the State Assembly.

Congress has maintained that it will continue its campaign until its demand for withdrawal of the legislation is addressed.

‘Angan Ka Utsav’: CM Majhi Highlights Child Nutrition, Women’s Welfare Initiatives

Bhubaneswar, Sept. 29 (UDN): Odisha is stepping up efforts to improve the nutritional well-being of women and children, with Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi stressing the need for stronger family participation in childcare and nutrition to realise the vision of a ‘Suposhit Odisha’.

 Pic Credit: x.com/PravatiPOdisha

Addressing the state-level celebration of ‘Angan Ka Utsav’ and the ninth Rashtriya Poshan Maah at an Anganwadi Centre in Baramunda on Tuesday, Majhi said a range of programmes were being implemented through Anganwadi centres and schools to improve nutrition and health outcomes.

CM Calls For Greater Family Participation

Majhi emphasised the significance of the first 1,000 days of a child’s life, calling for active involvement of fathers and other family members alongside mothers in ensuring proper nutrition, care and development.

“Through greater awareness and effective implementation of these programmes, Odisha will certainly emerge as a well-nourished state,” the Chief Minister said.

He said more than 46 lakh activities were carried out across Odisha during Poshan Maah and claimed that the state had secured the first position nationally in Aadhaar verification.

Frontline Workers Credited For Health Gains

The Chief Minister praised Anganwadi workers and helpers, auxiliary nurse midwives (ANMs) and ASHA workers for their contribution to improving healthcare indicators in the state.

According to Majhi, their grassroots-level efforts have contributed to higher child immunisation coverage, increased institutional deliveries and a significant reduction in infant and maternal mortality.

He said Odisha, which was earlier among the states with the second-highest infant and maternal mortality rates, has now reached a satisfactory position on both indicators.

Women-Centric Schemes Highlighted

Majhi said the welfare and empowerment of women remain central to the state’s development agenda, noting that women constitute half of society.

He highlighted initiatives including Subhadra Yojana, Lakhpati Didi, Mukhyamantri Kanya Bibaha Yojana and Mukhyamantri Kanya Sumangla Yojana.

The Chief Minister said at least 40 per cent of the State Government’s total budget is being spent on women.

He also said quality education and healthcare have been made completely free in the state. Education up to the postgraduate level, he said, is fee-free in government and government-aided educational institutions.

Girl children covered under the relevant government initiative will receive financial assistance of Rs 1 lakh after completing graduation, Majhi said.

Free Healthcare And Nutrition Initiatives

In the healthcare sector, Majhi said cashless treatment facilities are being provided at selected private hospitals across the country under the Ayushman Bharat-Gopabandhu Jana Arogya Yojana.

During the event, he distributed school kits to Anganwadi children and felicitated fathers who participated in showcasing healthy food.

Anganwadi workers, helpers and ASHA workers were also felicitated for their services.

CM Reviews Anganwadi Meals

Majhi visited the Anganwadi Centre and reviewed the quality of the ‘Tiranga Thali’ and hot cooked meals being served to children. He also served food to the children during the programme.

Deputy Chief Minister and Women and Child Development Minister Pravati Parida, Ekamra-Bhubaneswar MLA Babu Singh, Commissioner-cum-Secretary of the Women and Child Development Department Dr Mrinalini Darswal, Department Director Monisha Banerjee, along with other officials, Anganwadi workers, helpers, ASHA workers, children and parents attended the event.

The Chief Minister called upon citizens to support the government’s efforts towards building a healthier Odisha and reiterated his administration’s commitment to achieving the goal of a ‘Suposhit Odisha’.