New railway line proposed to connect ‘controversial’ bauxite hills in Odisha

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Notwithstanding massive tribal resistance to the proposed bauxite mining in the Sijimali hills spanning Odisha’s Rayagada and Kalahandi districts, the Ministry of Railways has proposed a new rail link connecting two bauxite-bearing hills, the mining rights for which have been secured by the Vedanta and Adani groups.

As per notification issued by Ministry of Railways on Tuesday (April 21, 2026), the Central government in exercise of the powers conferred by Clause (37A) of Section-2 of Railways Act, 1989 notified a new broad-gauge line connecting from Tikiri Station to Kutrumali and Sijimali Bauxite Mines on Waltair Division of East Coast Railway.