IB Thermal, 28.07.2021:As a leap forward in realizing the goal of independent coal supply, LOCO Engine rolling was carried out today on the newly constructed MGR railway track, which connects OPGC’s IB Thermal Power Station to OCPL’s coal mines at Manoharpur in Sundargarh district. As scheduled, this follows the successful trolley movement for inspection of the track from Suka Patnaik Chowk to Manoharpur, which was carried out on 28.06.2021. This success has paved the way for the long awaited rake movement from OCPL’s coal mines to power generating units of OPGC. Rolling of LOCO Engine began from IB Thermal at 08.30am with a customary puja performed by Director (Operations) Mr. Manas Ranjan Rout, Head (Projects) Mr. Saroj Kumar Sahu, Plant Manager-OPGC-II Mr. Sukanta Mohapatra in presence of Head MGR (Projects) Mr. P. Koreshu Patra, Head-MGR Mr. Sisir Kumar Rout and other senior officials of OPGC, Rites & L&T.

Government of India has allotted a Coal block at Manoharpur in the district of Sundargarh to M/s OCPL to meet the coal requirement of OPGC. The coal mine is fully operational now. For transportation of coal, OPGC has constructed a captive Railway system (Merry GO Round or MGR) from IB Thermal Power Station to Manoharpur Coal block. The said MGR railway line is passing through both Jharsuguda and Sundargarh districts. It consists of total running track length of 47.3KMs with a total 123 Bridges including one Rail over Rail bridge on Howrah-Mumbai Railway main line, one more Rail over rail on NTPC Railway and one Road under Bridge on NH-49 with five stations. M/s Larsen & Toubro ltd (L&T) was awarded the EPC Contract while the Project Management Consultancy contract (PMC) was given to M/s RITES, a Govt of India enterprises. All the construction activities of MGR including Permanent way, Signal and Telecommunication system and other works are completed in all respect, which makes the said MGR Rail line ready for operation.