Six new rail projects in Odisha: CM thanks PM and Railway Minister

Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister of Odisha Mohan Charan Majhi thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for approving six vital Railway projects in the State with estimated cost of Rs 15004 crore.

Yesterday, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved eight projects of Ministry of Railways with total estimated cost of Rs. 24,657 crore (approx.).

The new line proposals will provide direct connectivity and improve mobility, providing enhanced efficiency and service reliability for Indian Railways. The projects are in line with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a New India which will make people of the region “Atmanirbhar” by way of comprehensive development in the area which will enhance their employment/ self-employment opportunities.

The projects are result of PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan for multi-modal connectivity which have been possible through integrated planning and will provide seamless connectivity for movement of people, goods and services.

The 8 (Eight) projects covering 14 districts in Seven States i.e., Odisha, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Telangana and West Bengal will increase the existing network of Indian Railways by 900 Kms.

With these projects 64 New Stations will be constructed, providing enhancing connectivity to Six(6) Aspirational Districts (East Singhbum, BhadadriKothagudem, Malkangiri, Kalahandi, Nabarangpur, Rayagada), approx. 510 villages and about 40 lakh population.

These are essential routes for transportation of commodities such as agriculture products, fertilizer, coal, iron ore, steel, cement, bauxite, limestone, aluminium powder, granite, ballast, containers etc. The capacity augmentation works will result in additional freight traffic of magnitude 143 MTPA (Million Tonnes Per Annum).

The Railways being environment friendly and energy efficient mode of transportation, will help both in achieving climate goals and minimizing logistics cost of the country, reduce oil import (32.20 Crore Litres) and lower CO2 emissions (0.87 MillionTonnes) which is equivalent to plantation of 3.5 crore trees.

The new lines sanctioned in Odisha are Gunupur-Theruvali New Line (73.62KMs) in Rayagada District of Odisha at a cost of ₹1326 cr.; Junagarh Road-Nabrangpur New Line (116.21KMs) in Kalahandi and Nawarangpur District at a cost of ₹ 3274 crore; Malkangiri-Pandurangapuram (via Bhadrachalam) New Line (173.61KMs) in Malkanagiri District in Odisha, East Godavari District in Andhra Pradesh and Bhadradri Kothagudem District in Telengana at a cost of ₹4109 cr; Badampahar- Kendujhargarh New Line (82.06KMs) in Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj Districts at a cost of ₹2107 cr; Bangriposi-Gorumahisani New Line (85.60KMs) in Mayurbhanj District at a cost of ₹2549 cr and Buramara – Chakulia New Line (59.96KMs) in Mayurbhanj in Odisha, East Singhbhumi in Jharkhand and Jhargram in West Bengal at a cost of ₹1639 crore.

Briefing the media, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that all the new projects and ongoing projects in the state will be expedites in view of Double Engine Government both in State and in Center.

He also said that the hurdles for construction of rail line will now be solved quickly. These projects are in Prime Minister’s vision of development from East.

Vaishnaw also added that project worth ₹01 lakh Crore has been planned for Railway Infrastructural Development in Odisha. Till now, projects worth ₹70 Thousand Crores have been already been sanctioned for Odisha.

The Chief Minister has also assured that State Government will take all efforts for Rail Infrastructural Development in the State. He also assured that steps will be taken for early completion of land acquisition work.

Amongst others, Member of Parliaments (MPs) Naba Charan Majhi (Mayurbhanj), Balabhadra Majhi (Nabarangpur), Anant Nayak (Keonjhar) and Malvika Deo (Kalahandi) were also present with Vaishnaw through video conferencing from New Delhi. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi also joined in video conferencing from Bhubaneswar.