Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Wednesday thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw after the Centre approved two major railway multitracking projects in the state, saying the projects would strengthen rail infrastructure, improve connectivity and support the movement of passengers and freight.
The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved four railway multitracking projects worth around Rs 9,450 crore through the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA). Two of the projects are in Odisha — the 75-km Bhadrak-Haridaspur fourth line and the 72-km Cuttack-Paradeep (Badabandha) third and fourth lines.
Welcoming the decision, Majhi said the approval of the multitracking projects was a significant step towards further strengthening Odisha’s rail infrastructure and connectivity.
“These projects will enhance rail capacity, improve the movement of passengers and goods, strengthen connectivity with key economic centres and support Odisha’s continued growth and development,” the chief minister said in a post on X.
Majhi also expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Ashwini Vaishnaw for their continued support and commitment towards strengthening Odisha’s railway network and advancing the state’s infrastructure and economic growth.
The four projects approved by the CCEA will add around 410 km to the Indian Railways network and are aimed at increasing line capacity, easing congestion and improving the movement of passengers and freight.
The 75-km Bhadrak-Haridaspur fourth line is expected to provide additional capacity on an important railway route in Odisha. Similarly, the Cuttack-Paradeep project will involve the construction of third and fourth lines along the 72-km stretch, strengthening rail connectivity to the Paradeep region.
The other two projects approved by the CCEA are the 173-km Kharagpur-Bhadrak (Ranital) fourth line, covering West Bengal and Odisha, and the 90-km Gummidipundi-Gudur third and fourth lines, covering Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
