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.
Fight against bauxite mining in Odisha: the view from the hill
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.
Kalinga Alumina Limited, a subsidiary of Adani Group, has proposed opencast mechanised mining over a mining lease area of 701.792 hectare in Kutrumali which will cover Thuamul Rampur and Kashipur tahasils in Kalahandi and Rayagada, Odisha. Kutrumali bauxite hills has a proven reserve of 127.737 million tonnes of bauxite. A public hearing seeking environmental clearance for the mining project is scheduled at the Thuamul Rampur block of Kalahandi on May 12, 2026.
Similarly, Vedanta Group has received mining right over 1,549.022 hectare in Sijimali bauxite hill in both the Tahasils. The bauxite block has more than 300 million tonne of raw material reserved beneath the soil. Both Kutrumali and Sijimali, situated at 2 km distance as the crow flies, have been at eye of storm with environmentalists and villagers opposing mining projects stating that they would destroy livelihood and water sources.
