Odisha’s Cuttack railway station stands as a pivotal hub connecting people around the country. As an integral part of the region’s infrastructure, the station has embarked on a transformative journey through a redevelopment project. 

This ambitious endeavor not only envisions a modernised transportation hub but also signifies a significant leap in the state’s commitment to enhancing connectivity and passenger experience.

The redevelopment of the station is being done with a project cost of Rs 303 crore under the Indian Railways’ Amrit Station Scheme. In 2021, the Indian Railways narrowed down 1,309 stations for redevelopment. 

Notably, the redeveloped three-storey Cuttack station will have world-class amenities for passengers such as separate arrival and departure concourses, a large food court, and a modern retiring room.

Redeveloped Cuttack station building to have Bali Jatra’s essence

The East Coast Railway recently informed that the redeveloped Cuttack railway station will showcase the city’s rich cultural heritage and the Bali Jatra. These elements would be showcased prominently in a station’s main building. 

The redevelopment of the station started in April last year and is scheduled to be completed next year. ”Bali Jatra is a rich ancient tradition of the city and we have decided to give it a prominent space at the main station building,” Chief Engineer (Construction), East Coast Railway (ECoR), Ajay Kumar Samal said.

In ancient times, the people of Odisha sailed to places such as Bali, Java, Sumatra, and Sri Lanka from the banks of the Mahanadi River for trade. To celebrate this maritime history of the city, the Bali Jatra is held every year by locals on Kartik Purnima by organising a fair.

“A large boat, locally called Boita, is raised on the river bed of the Mahanadi and it signifies the tradition. The main station building will capture its (Bali Jatra) essence,” Samal said.

“Besides, the inner walls of the station like those in the waiting area will have local tribal paintings which reflect the tradition of the city,” he further added. 

To date, sixty percent of the construction work of the main building is complete and we are hoping that it will be finished as per schedule. The project has been envisaged as a self-sustained energy efficient green building, the ECoR chief engineer informed. 

Bolstering Odisha’s rail infrastructure

In May 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone and dedicated several railway projects worth more than Rs 8,000 crores in Odisha, which included redevelopment plans of Cuttack and Puri railway stations. 

In a separate event, Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said, “Cuttack Railway station will be redeveloped as a world-class station and Rs 303 crores have been sanctioned for the redevelopment work.”