Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw inaugurated the east side (national highway side) station building at Cuttack Railway Station, marking a significant milestone in improving transportation infrastructure in the region.
Addressing the gathering, Vaishnaw announced that the Howrah–Chennai route will soon be upgraded to four railway tracks to better serve the people of this region. He revealed that the third track between Bhadrak in Odisha and Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh has already been sanctioned with an estimated cost of Rs 10,000 crore, with work set to commence soon. The new tracks will facilitate the introduction of more trains to key destinations from Odisha, addressing rising demand.
In addition, the minister highlighted the approval of a flyover on the Ghantikhal-Nidhipur road in Cuttack district, which will be constructed at a cost of Rs 96 crore. Another flyover in the Athgarh area of the district, promised during the election period, will also be built at an investment of Rs 268 crore.
The newly inaugurated east side station building at Cuttack Railway Station was constructed at a cost of Rs 14.63 crore. Railway officials noted that the building will significantly enhance passenger convenience and safety, providing easy access for travelers arriving from the national highway side. This development is expected to streamline station operations and improve passenger movement, fulfilling the long-standing demand for better facilities and connectivity in the region.
Spanning 21,270 sq. ft., the new building includes air-conditioned spaces, a 2,100 sq. ft. food court, modern toilets (with Divyangjan accessibility), ticket counters, waiting areas, escalators, and lifts. This is part of the ongoing redevelopment under the Amrit Stations Scheme, with Cuttack Railway Station set to become a modern transportation hub offering world-class amenities, thanks to an investment of Rs 303 crore.
Earlier in the day, Vaishnaw inaugurated a foot-over bridge (FOB) at Balasore Railway Station, announcing that the station would undergo a redevelopment at a cost of Rs 200 crore. He also emphasized that the new design for Cuttack station was created with the Jagannath Temple in mind.
The minister recalled Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s promise to the people of Odisha in May 2024 about the development of key projects under a “double-engine government” and noted that in recent months, Modi has sanctioned Rs 20,000 crore for railway projects in Odisha. A total of Rs 73,000 crore has been earmarked for the development of the railway sector in the state.