Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw on Thursday announced a special train service from Odisha’s Puri to Ayodhya.
The train service will commence during July or August this year, Vaishnaw said during the announcement at a public function in Puri. Notably, Odisha’s Puri, the abode of Lord Jagannath, will connect Ayodhya, the birthplace of Lord Ram.
Meanwhile, the union minister also informed that the Puri-Konark new railway line in the Puri district will also be approved shortly.
Odisha’s rise in railway budget allocation
Claiming that Odisha has seen a rise in railway budget allocation over the years, Vaishave said in 2014, the state got around Rs 800 crore in the budget for developing the railway sector. But now, the funding has been enhanced to Rs 10,000 crore and the state is witnessing its results, he added.
The railway minister mentioned that a railway line of only 45 km was constructed per year during the UPA government while claiming that it increased by 10 times to 450 km during the current government.
“It is PM Modi’s guarantee to make Odisha a developed state in the country. Modiji is working day and night to ensure a better future for the youths of Odisha,” he added.
Redevelopment of Puri railway station
On Wednesday, the Union Minister inspected the re-development of the Puri Railway station and termed it a world-class station.
Notably, the design of the new building of Puri railway station has been inspired by Lord Shree Jagannath, and the works are going on at full speed, Vaishnaw said after inspection.