Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd (RVNL) has secured a significant contract worth ₹967.93 crore from East Coast Railway for railway infrastructure development. According to the company's regulatory filing, the contract involves construction of railway lines on the Bhadrak-Vizianagaram section, spanning 385 kilometers in total. The contract includes 18% GST and is subject to general contract conditions, with the project to be executed within 1,095 days (approximately 3 years). RVNL has clarified that the contract has been awarded by a domestic entity and does not involve any related-party transactions, with the company and its promoter group having no interest in the entity awarding the project.
The contract encompasses construction of the 3rd and 4th line between Nergundi Barang (22 km) and Khurda Road-Vizianagaram (363 km) on the Bhadrak-Vizianagaram section. As reported by CNBC TV18, the project involves the construction of four major bridges on an EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) mode over key rivers including Birupa, Mahanadi, Kathjori, and Kuakhai rivers. The bridges are strategically located at specific channel positions to ensure optimal structural integrity, with these structures playing a key role in supporting third and fourth line expansion and improving traffic flow across the corridor. The engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract includes the construction of key bridges over major rivers in Odisha, with all bridges to be built using Open Web Steel Girder technology aimed at enhancing capacity and operational efficiency on one of the busiest railway corridors.
The bridge construction specifications include Bridge No. 539 (16x30.5m Open Web Steel Girder over river Birupa at ch.402521m), Bridge No. 544 (32x65.84m Open Web Steel Girder over river Mahanadi at ch.406305m), Bridge No. 553 (18x45.70m Open Web Steel Girder over river Kathjori at ch.411589m), and Bridge No. 557 (20x45.70m Open Web Steel Girder over river Kuakhai at ch.414607m). According to CNBC TV18, all bridges will be constructed using Open Web Steel Girder technology, ensuring robust structural design for the railway infrastructure development. The steel girder bridge technology will further support durability and long-term infrastructure resilience, with these new bridges over the Mahanadi, Birupa, Kathjori and Kuakhai rivers being considered critical components of the capacity enhancement programme.
The Bhadrak-Vizianagaram section represents a crucial railway route under the East Coast network, handling heavy freight and passenger traffic. The addition of third and fourth lines, along with the new bridges, is expected to reduce congestion on existing lines, improve operational efficiency, strengthen freight movement capacity, and enhance regional connectivity across Odisha and eastern India. The Bhadrak-Vizianagaram section is a vital route for passenger and freight movement on the East Coast Railway network, with the new bridges over the Mahanadi, Birupa, Kathjori and Kuakhai rivers being critical components of the capacity enhancement programme. The project is expected to significantly enhance both passenger and freight movement efficiency along the route, with the Bhadrak-Vizianagaram corridor being a key component of the large-scale infrastructure expansion programme involving third and fourth railway lines.
This latest contract adds to RVNL's growing project portfolio, following the company's earlier ₹221.33 crore contract received in June from South East Central Railway for an EPC project in Chhattisgarh. As reported by CNBC TV18, the South East Central Railway contract involves replacement of panel interlocking with electronic interlocking, installation of signalling equipment, construction of OFC huts, and electrification works under the Bilaspur division. The latest order further strengthens RVNL's already robust order pipeline and reinforces its position as one of India's leading railway infrastructure companies. The company continues to secure large-scale projects across railways, metros and other transportation sectors, demonstrating its continued expansion in railway infrastructure development across multiple regions. RVNL shares closed at ₹245.14 on the National Stock Exchange on Wednesday, rising 1.66% following the contract announcement, though the stock has declined 32% from the beginning of the year.
