Odisha’s Puri railway station is one of the important junctions in the eastern state, which connects the Lord Jagannath temple to the entire nation. Throughout the year, a huge influx of people arrive in Puri to worship at the site, making it more vital in terms of passenger connectivity.
The station presently is undergoing a major transformation under the ambitious Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. As per the comprehensive redevelopment plan, the infrastructure and facilities will be revamped at Puri railway station, bolstering the station’s train handling capacity by 2025. Rs. 161.51 crores have been sanctioned for the redevelopment plan of the station.
“The redevelopment work is progressing swiftly for Puri in Odisha. Upon completion in July 2025, it will not only accommodate more trains but also provide improved passenger amenities,” Deputy CE/Con-I/Bhubaneswar, Prabhat Singh said to ANI.
“We are transforming the entire station into a world-class facility. The building will be G plus Three (Ground plus Three), along with the concourse. We will also enhance the platform area. After the renovation, the entire building will be air-conditioned,” He further said.
Notably, an extensive parking space will be developed at the railway station, encompassing an exclusive area for electric vehicle charging. Further, six escalators will be built to provide facilities such as a rest room for the Travelling Ticket Examiner (TTE), a retiring room with 150 beds on the top floor, and dormitory facilities will be available too.
At present, the Puri railway station caters to around 16,000 passengers daily and after the renovation, its capacity will increase to accommodate 60,000 passengers, Singh added.
Talking about the design and architecture of the redevelopment plan of the station, architect of the station Prateek Rath said: “Puri Railway Station is a world-class railway station that we are developing. The architectural style here is Kalinga temple architecture because that is the history of the state of Odisha. And, because this is a building being built in Puri or Lord Jagannath Dham, the temple style of architecture is something that has been adopted in the facade.”
Strengthening rail infrastructure with Amrit Bharat Station Scheme
As part of the Ministry of Railways’ Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, 1,309 railway stations have been undergoing modernisation and upgradation.
Notably, the upgradation of railway stations is complex and poses challenges like various statutory clearances such as fire clearance, heritage, tree cutting, and airport clearance among others.
As one of the oldest and most crucial railway stations in Odisha, Puri railway station plays an imperative role in serving the Puri district. Currently, the station is equipped with eight railway tracks, and it is set to undergo a substantial facelift to meet the growing demands of the region.
In Odisha alone, 57 railway stations, including the notable Puri Railway Station, are slated for transformation under the comprehensive scheme.