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Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw Announces Major Railway Expansion for Odisha

in National, State News May 14, 2026 Comments Off on Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw Announces Major Railway Expansion for Odisha 323 Views

New Delhi:14/5/26: Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw today highlighted major railway infrastructure and connectivity initiatives being undertaken across Odisha.

Announcing the introduction of the new 18407/18408 Puri–Koraput–Puri Tri-Weekly Express, Shri Vaishnaw said the service will, for the first time, provide direct rail connectivity between Puri and large parts of western and southern Odisha.

The train will operate via Khurda Road, Bhubaneswar, Angul, Sambalpur, Bargarh Road, Balangir, Titlagarh, Kesinga, Muniguda, Rayagada, Tikiri, Laxmipur Road, Kakiriguma and Damanjodi, significantly benefiting passengers from coastal, western and southern Odisha. The service will improve connectivity for pilgrimage, tourism, education, healthcare, employment and business travel, particularly for the KBK region and tribal-dominated districts.

Highlighting Odisha’s railway growth, Shri Vaishnaw informed that railway projects worth nearly ₹90,000 crore are presently under execution in the State. Key projects include the Junagarh–Nabarangpur, Nabarangpur–Jeypore, Jeypore–Malkangiri, Bargarh–Nuapada, Gunupur–Therubali, Khurda Road–Balangir, and Bimlagarh–Talcher rail line projects.

He stated that the long-pending Khurda Road–Balangir Rail Line project is progressing rapidly and is targeted for completion by 2027.

The Minister also highlighted the ongoing four lining works on the Howrah–Chennai main corridor through Odisha. He stated that after completion of the new lines and major capacity enhancement works, Odisha will have the capability to run nearly 500 additional trains in the future.

Shri Vaishnaw further informed that 59 railway stations across Odisha are being redeveloped under the Amrit Station Scheme, including Bhubaneswar, Puri, Sambalpur, Berhampur, Talcher and Baripada stations. A fresh DPR is also being prepared for the proposed Puri–Konark rail connectivity project.

He reiterated the Government of India’s commitment towards strengthening railway infrastructure and ensuring balanced regional development across Odisha.

 

About Editor in chief

Ashok Palit has completed his graduation from Upendranath College Soro, Balasore and post graduation from Utkal University in Odia Language and literture.. He has also carved out a niche for himself as a scribe of eminence after joining the profession in 1988. He is also an independent media production professional. He brings loads of experience to Advanced Media, Ashok Palit as a cineaste has been active in film criticism for over three decades. As a film society activist, he soared to eminence for his profound commitment to the art film appreciation and aesthetics of cinema. His mode of discourse is often erudite but always lucid and comprehensible marked by a perfect acumen so rare in the field. A film aesthete with an immense fond of critical sensibilities, he wrote about growth and development of odia cinema in New Indian Express, The Times of India, The Hindustan Times, The Asian Age and Screen. He has been working as an Editor for Cine Samaya from 2002-2004.. He had made solid contribution on cinema in many odia Dailies and weekly such as Samaj, Prajatantra, Dharatri, Samaya, Satabadi, and weekly Samaya.
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