Bhubaneswar: Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnav on Friday announced that his department has sanctioned two new railway projects in Odisha. Interacting with the media, the minister said that the two projects include a 42 km railway track between Jaleswar and Chandaneswar sanction of the Final Location Survey (FLS) for a new line between Angul and Nayagarh Town via Narsinghpur, Kantilo and Khandapada and a 120 km chord line between Khurda Town and Kaipadar Road.
The Digha-Jaleswar (Chandaneswar-Jaleswar) new line project will be completed on the fast track. The approval process has been completed and work will commence soon, Vaishnav said. This connectivity will boost the regional economy and tourism as new areas get connected to the mainstream.
The Jaleswar-Chandaneswar line will connect the famous Shiva Peeths of Balasore district with Jaleswar station such as Chandaneswar Temple, Bhusandeswar Temple and others.
At the same time, the project will promote regional socio-economic upliftment and connectivity to the hinterland of Jaleswar and Bhograi blocks of the Balasore district. It will benefit the fisheries sector and local farmers.
According to the Railway Minister, the Final Location Survey (FLS) for the new line between Angul and Nayagarh Town via Narasinghpur-Kantilo-Khandapada and a chord line between Khurda Town and Kaipadar Road has been sanctioned. This line will provide connectivity to Kantilo Nilamadhab Temple, boost nature tourism by connecting unexplored wildlife sanctuaries and forest reserves, and create new markets for brass and bell metal crafts at Kantilo and Khandapada.
In addition, the project will facilitate freight movement such as coal, and power plants and offer port connectivity.
The proposed new line will merge with the ongoing Khurda-Balangir line at Nayagarh Town station and take off from Khurda Town station to Kaipadar Road station in Khurda Road Vizianagaram main line.
