Bhubaneswar: The Centre has allocated a record Rs 10,586 crore for the development of railway infrastructure in the Union Budget, informed Railway Minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw on Wednesday.
Addressing a press conference, Vaishnaw said, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi is keen on taking up the rail infra in Odisha. He himself reviews the progress of various ongoing projects in the State. I am grateful to PM Modi for this record allocation and I thanked Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for the budget.”
“Under the UPA government, Odisha used to receive a mere Rs 838 crore. In contrast, the BJP-led government has significantly increased the allocation by 12 times, which shows the centre’s commitment to accelerate development in Odisha,” Vaishnaw added.
Between 2009 and 2014, an average of 53 kilometers of new tracks were laid each year. This figure has now tripled, with an average of 183 kilometers of new tracks being laid annually from 2014 to 2024. Additionally, the electrification of railway lines has seen a fivefold increase, from 29 kilometers per year during 2009-14 to 146 kilometers per year between 2014 and 2024.
The Minister informed that Rs 54,434 crore will be invested in the ongoing 40 projects in Odisha. The railway projects in Odisha will witness a massive transformation during the third term of PM Modi, he added.
As many as 427 flyovers and underpasses have been constructed in Odisha since 2014, Vaishnaw said.
Odisha has achieved 100 per cent electrification of the railway network. As many as 59 railway stations including Cuttack and Bhubaneswar will be redeveloped as Amrit Bharat Station.This initiative aims to modernize and upgrade the facilities at these stations, providing passengers with an improved travel experience.
These 59 railway stations are—Angul, Badampahar, Balangir, Baleshwar, Balugaon, Barbil, Bargarh Road, Baripada, Barpali, Belpahar, Betnoti, Bhadrak, Bhawanipatna, Bhubaneswar, Bhubaneswar New , Bimlagarh, Brahmapur, Brajrajnagar, Chatrapur, Cuttack, Damanjodi, Dhenkanal, Gunupur, Harishanker Road, Himgir, Hirakud, Jajpur Keonjhar Road, Jaleswar, Jaroli, Jeypore, Jharsuguda Jn, Jharsuguda Road, Kantabanji, Kendujhargarh, Kesinga, Khariar Road, Khurda Road Jn, Koraput Jn, Lingaraj Temple Road, Mancheswar, Meramandali, Muniguda, Panposh, Paradeep, Parlakhemundi, Puri, Raghunathpur, Rairakhol, Rairangpur, Rajgangpur, Rayagada, Rourkela, Sakhi Gopal, Sambalpur, Sambalpur city, Soro, Talcher, Talcher Road, Titlagarh Jn.
Furthermore, since 2014, Indian Railways has constructed 427 rail flyovers and under-bridges, which are essential for enhancing safety, reducing congestion, and improving travel times for passengers.
This comprehensive development plan underscores Indian Railways’ commitment to transforming Odisha’s railway infrastructure, ensuring better connectivity, and providing a superior travel experience for all passengers.
