Bhubaneswar: Odisha Governor Kambhampati Hari Babu on Saturday reviewed the progress of the ongoing Puri Railway Station Development Project and directed officials to ensure its completion before the Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath in 2027.
The Governor visited the project site in Puri, where he was received by East Coast Railway General Manager Parmeshwar Funkwal, Puri Collector Dibyajyoti Parida, Superintendent of Police Prateek Singh and other senior railway and district administration officials. He was accorded a ceremonial Guard of Honour by the district police.
During the inspection, railway officials briefed the Governor on the progress of key components of the station redevelopment project, including the front façade, entry and exit gates, wall cladding, ceiling works, entrance auditorium and public utility areas. A miniature model and project maps were also presented to showcase the planned transformation of the station into a modern transportation hub.
Officials informed the Governor that the upgraded station will feature a range of passenger amenities such as food courts, Jana Ahara outlets, retiring rooms, dormitories, passenger lounges, automatic ticket vending machines, dedicated parking facilities for Divyangjan, baggage scanners and barrier-free access systems. The facilities are being developed to improve convenience, accessibility and comfort for the growing number of pilgrims and tourists visiting Puri.
Hari Babu later inspected various sections of the project site and reviewed the pace and quality of construction works.
Subsequently, the Governor chaired a review meeting at Lok Bhavan, Puri, with senior officials of East Coast Railway and the district administration. During the meeting, he was briefed on the status of the Puri Railway Station Development Project as well as the proposed Puri–Konark Railway Link Project.
Emphasising the importance of timely completion, the Governor directed officials to ensure that the station redevelopment project is ready before the 2027 Rath Yatra so that lakhs of devotees and passengers can benefit from the enhanced facilities. He said public convenience and efficient service delivery should remain the primary focus of all infrastructure development initiatives.
Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of developing world-class railway infrastructure across the country, Hari Babu said such projects play a crucial role in improving connectivity, promoting tourism and driving economic growth.
To maintain project timelines, he advised officials to undertake weekly monitoring through PERT charts and conduct regular reviews of progress. He also stressed the need for close coordination between railway authorities and state government departments for quick resolution of bottlenecks and smooth implementation of projects.
The Governor was further apprised of the progress of station redevelopment and modernisation works underway at several railway stations across Odisha, including Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Sambalpur and Brahmapur.
Reiterating the importance of timely execution, Hari Babu called upon all stakeholders to work in a coordinated manner to ensure that the benefits of modern railway infrastructure reach the people at the earliest and contribute to Odisha’s overall development.
