Bhubaneswar: Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting, and Electronics & Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw on Sunday visited Odisha and reviewed key infrastructure projects in Bhubaneswar, reaffirming the Centre’s commitment to strengthening railway connectivity across the state.
During his visit, the Minister inspected the ongoing redevelopment and modernisation works at Bhubaneswar Railway Station under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. He reviewed the progress of passenger-centric upgrades, including improved station facilities, enhanced accessibility, better circulation areas, and modern airport-like amenities.
Vaishnaw interacted with passengers, who expressed satisfaction with the ongoing transformation and appreciated the airport-like facilities being developed at the station. He directed officials to expedite the pace of work and ensure its timely completion. Reviewing the proposed elevated corridor on the eastern side, he instructed that all pending issues be resolved on a priority basis to facilitate its early completion.
Later, while participating in the groundbreaking ceremony of the Heterogeneous Integration Packaging Solutions (3D Glass Solutions), India’s first advanced glass semiconductor packaging unit, the Minister highlighted the unprecedented scale of railway development in Odisha.
He stated that railway projects worth over Rs 90,000 crore are currently under execution across the state, reflecting a historic expansion of rail infrastructure. He further emphasised that Odisha has received a record budget allocation of over Rs 10,000 crore (Rs 10,928 crore) for railway development, which is significantly higher and nearly 13 times more than the average allocation in previous decades.
Highlighting inclusive growth, Vaishnaw announced a special focus on strengthening railway connectivity in western Odisha, particularly along the Junagarh–Nabarangpur–Jeypore–Malkangiri–Bhadrachalam corridor, which will significantly improve access to tribal and aspirational regions. He also informed that 59 railway stations across Odisha are being redeveloped under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, bringing modern amenities and an enhanced passenger experience across the state.
Focusing on future capacity enhancement, the Minister stated that a four-line railway corridor along coastal Odisha from Balasore to Brahmapur is being planned. This strategic project will boost connectivity under East Coast Railway and play a crucial role in easing congestion on the vital Howrah–Chennai main line.
Vaishnaw emphasised that these transformative initiatives will strengthen regional connectivity, support economic growth, and integrate Odisha more closely with national freight and passenger networks.
Reiterating the government’s vision, he affirmed that railway infrastructure across Odisha will continue to be upgraded with a focus on speed, safety, and passenger comfort, ensuring balanced and inclusive development across all regions of the state.
