Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to lay the foundation stones for the redevelopment of 21 railway stations and 52 rail bridges in Odisha on February 26, according to a statement by the East Coast Railway on Friday.
The initiative is part of a larger inauguration ceremony encompassing the redevelopment of 554 railway stations and 1,500 road overbridges (ROB) and road underbridges (RUB) across the country, with a staggering total investment of Rs 41,000 crore, as confirmed by an official source.
21 Amrit Bharat railway stations in Odisha
Manoj Sharma, the General Manager of East Coast Railway, detailed that the estimated cost for the redevelopment of the 21 Amrit Bharat railway stations in Odisha stands at Rs 900 crore.
The identified stations include Bimlagarh, Jaroli, Rairangpur, Panposh, Baleswar, Betnoti, Sambalpur City, Jharsuguda Road, Titlagarh, Kesinga, Rayagada, Paralakhemundi, Koraput, Jeypore, Talcher, Raghunathpur, Paradeep, Kendujhargarh, Bhadrak, Belpahar, and Brajarajnagar.
Sharma further highlighted that within the East Coast Railway zone, which extends to parts of Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, foundation stones will be laid for another 22 Amrit Bharat railway stations, with a sanctioned cost of Rs 790 crore.
These additional stations include Naupada, Simhachalam, Bobbili, Srikakulam Rd., Parvatipuram, Chipurupalle, Sambalpur City, Jharsuguda Rd., Titlagarh, Kesinga, Rayagada, Paralakhemundi, Koraput, Jeypore, Talcher, Raghunathpur, Paradeep, Kendujhargarh, Bhadrak, Araku, Kottavalasa, and Ichachapuram.
Construction of 52 rail bridges
The ambitious project also involves the construction of 52 rail bridges, with a budget of Rs 1,420 crore. These infrastructural developments aim to significantly improve connectivity and enhance the railway network in Odisha, playing a pivotal role in the overall development of the state.