PM Modi launches 2,000 rail infra projects, 21 more stations in Odisha to get a facelift

By Dinalipi Bureau on February 26, 2024

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday dedicated to the nation 2000 railway infrastructure projects worth over Rs 41,000 via video conferencing in presence Union Rail Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.

The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone for redevelopment of 553 stations, including 21 in Odisha, under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme and nearly 1,500 road overbridges (ROB) and underbridges (RUB) across different states.

“Today’s programme is a symbol of the new work culture of new India. Whatever India does today, it does with unprecedented speed, today’s India has stopped dreaming of small things, we dream big and work day and night to fulfil them, this is the resolve of this developed India…The projects are for over 300 districts in 27 states worth over Rs 40,000 crore… Lakhs of youths will get scope for employment under these projects. The dream of youths is my Sankalp for Vikshit Bharat guarantee,” the PM said.

Earlier in a post on X (formerly Twitter), PM Modi had described it as a historic day for Railways. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik attended the event from Bhubaneswar.

The Amrit Bharat stations, spread across 27 states and Union Territories, will be redeveloped at a cost of over Rs 19,000 crores. The 21 stations in Odisha are Bimlagarh, Jaroli, Rairangpur, Panposh, Baleswar, Betnoti, Sambalpur City, Jharsuguda Road, Titlagarh, Kesinga, Rayagada, Paralakhemundi, Koraput, Jeypore, Talcher, Raghunathpur, Paradeep, Kendujhargarh, Bhadrak, Belpahar, and Brajarajnagar. These would be redeveloped with an investment of Rs 900 crore, according to official sources

Among these, 13 fall under ECoR and six stations under the South Eastern Railway (SER) while two belong to the South East Central Railway (SECR).

These 21 stations are among the 57 railway stations in the state identified by the Indian Railways for a major makeover at a cost of around Rs 3,000 crore. Work on 25 stations, including Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Puri, are already in different stages under the first phase of the scheme.

These apart, 52 ROB and RUB will also be constructed in Odisha at an estimated cost of Rs 1,420 crore. In the ECoR zone alone, 30 ROB/RUBs are slated for development at an estimated cost of Rs 1,288 crore. The ROB/RUB projects aim to bring visible benefits to the public, removing traffic barriers, enhancing safety, and improving overall transportation efficiency.