Bhubaneswar: Ahead of monsoon, East Coast Railway (ECoR) has accelerated safety works across Kothavalasa-Kirandul (KK), Koraput-Rayagada (KR) and Rayagada-Vizianagaram (RV) ghat sections to ensure boulders and rocks do not block train operations. Landslides and rockfall on the tracks are most dangerous in these sections, often leading to disruption in train operations.Official sources said the works are being carried out in sensitive ghat sections prone to rockfall, soil erosion and adverse weather conditions. The 445-km KK line, which is highly profitable, passes through difficult hilly terrain and tunnels.“To tackle the situation, modern slope stabilisation measures, including rockfall barriers, rock bolting, wire mesh netting, Geomat laying and tunnel strengthening, are being executed on priority to enhance infrastructure safety and operational reliability,” said an official statement of the ECoR.Substantial progress has been achieved in protection works under the KK-I and KK-II sections. In the first phase, 910 metres of rockfall barrier work has been completed. In addition, 30,621 square metres of wire mesh netting and 25,830 metres of rock bolting works have been executed. Further, 500 square metres of Geomat were laid for slope protection and erosion control, said the official sources.In the KK-II section, the entire targeted 120 metres of rock fall barrier work has been completed. Additionally, 4,200 square metres of wire mesh netting work has also been executed, strengthening vulnerable hill cuttings in the section, said the ECoR official sources.Protection works are also progressing steadily in the KR section. So far, 220 metres of rockfall barrier work, 14,745 square metres of wire mesh netting and the complete 1,600 metres of rock bolting work have been completed.These preventive measures are aimed at minimising the risk of loose rock movement, improving slope stability and ensuring uninterrupted train operations through challenging ghat terrain, said a senior railway officer.In the RV section, protection works in vulnerable cuttings between Lanjigarh Road and Rayagada are currently in progress and are targeted for completion by May 31, said an official statement.