Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday (March 12) virtually unveiled over 270 railway projects in Odisha. PM Modi also flagged off the state’s third Vande Bharat Express train today. The prime minister conducted the virtual launch of projects from Ahmedabad, highlighting the government’s commitment to bolstering railway infrastructure across the country.
According to officials, the new projects encompassed a range of initiatives, including goods sheds, signalling systems, and the introduction of a new semi high-speed train route connecting Visakhapatnam and Bhubaneswar.
Odisha’s third Vande Bharat Express train
The newly inaugurated Vande Bharat Express train in Odisha will operate six days a week, with stoppages at key stations including Bhubaneswar, Khurda Road, Berhampur in Odisha, and Palasa, Srikakulam Road, and Vizianagaram in Andhra Pradesh.
PM Modi inaugurates several railway projects in Odisha
In addition to the Vande Bharat Express, Modi inaugurated several significant railway projects in Odisha, including various sections of third lines and doubling projects.
These include the Haridaspur-Byree section (16.8 km) of the Bhadrak-Nergundi third line, the Damanjodi-Baiguda section (14.6 km) of the Koraput-Raigada doubling project, the Singapur Road-Rayagada section (9.2 km) of the Vijianagam-Titlagarh third line, and the Similiguda-Araku-Gorapur (21.6 km) section of the Kotavlasa-Koraput doubling project.
Enhancing railway infrastructure in Odisha
Furthermore, the PM inaugurated a range of additional railway facilities, including electronic interlocking systems, ‘One Station One Product’ stalls, solar-powered stations, goods sheds, auto signalling systems, a Gati Shakti terminal, a Jan Ausadhi Kendra, and a rail coach restaurant, underscoring the comprehensive nature of the government’s efforts to enhance railway infrastructure and passenger amenities in Odisha.