- Odisha railway multitracking projects form a major part of four approved railway projects costing around ₹9,450 crore.
- The projects will add approximately 410 km of additional railway lines across Odisha, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
- Odisha will benefit from new lines between Kharagpur and Bhadrak, Bhadrak and Haridaspur, and Cuttack and Paradeep.
Bhubaneswar: The Centre has approved four major railway multitracking projects with a combined investment of around ₹9,450 crore, significantly expanding rail capacity across Odisha and three other states.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs cleared the projects on Wednesday, with Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw saying the additions will cover approximately 410 km of railway infrastructure.
Three of the four projects directly involve Odisha, including important corridors connecting Bhadrak, Haridaspur, Cuttack and Paradeep. The expansion is expected to reduce congestion, improve train operations and strengthen freight movement through some of eastern and southern India’s key industrial routes.
Odisha Railway Multitracking Projects to Expand Key Corridors
The approved projects include a 173-km fourth line between Kharagpur and Bhadrak’s Ranital, covering West Bengal and Odisha.
Another 75-km fourth line will be developed between Bhadrak and Haridaspur in Odisha.
The third Odisha-linked project involves 72 km of third and fourth lines between Cuttack and Paradeep’s Badabandha.
The fourth project will add 90 km of third and fourth lines between Gummidipundi and Gudur across Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
The four projects will pass through eight districts and are scheduled for completion by 2030-31.
Odisha Railway Multitracking Projects to Support Freight
The additional capacity is particularly important for freight corridors carrying coal, iron ore, cement, steel, containers, automobiles and foodgrains.
According to government estimates, the projects could enable approximately 76 million tonnes of additional freight movement every year.
For Odisha, improved rail capacity around Cuttack, Bhadrak and Paradeep could have wider economic implications. Paradeep is a major industrial and port-linked region, making faster rail movement important for connecting raw materials, finished products and export-import cargo with markets.
The projects are being implemented under the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, which focuses on coordinated infrastructure development and multimodal connectivity.
Odisha Railway Expansion to Benefit 60 Lakh People
The government estimates that improved rail connectivity from the four projects will benefit around 6,448 villages, covering a combined population of nearly 60 lakh people.
The network expansion is also expected to improve access to tourism and religious destinations. In Odisha, the connectivity gains could support travel to places including Bhitarkanika National Park, Maa Bhadrakali Temple, Maa Dhamarai Temple, Panchalingeswar Temple, Talsari-Udaypur, Chandipur, Gada Kujanga Jagannath Temple, Sarala Temple, Dhabaleswar Temple and Lalitgiri.
Beyond passenger travel, the additional railway lines are expected to improve access to markets, services and employment opportunities.
The government also projects environmental benefits from shifting more freight from road to rail. It estimates that the projects could reduce oil imports by around 13 crore litres and cut carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 65 crore kg.
The estimated reduction in emissions is equivalent to the environmental benefit associated with planting around 2.60 crore trees, according to the government.
The expansion therefore goes beyond adding railway tracks. By increasing capacity on routes already carrying heavy passenger and freight traffic, the projects are intended to remove operational bottlenecks while supporting industrial activity and regional connectivity.
For Odisha, the Cuttack-Paradeep and Bhadrak-linked projects could be particularly important as the state continues to expand its industrial, port and logistics infrastructure. Once completed, the additional lines are expected to provide more room for passenger trains and freight services on corridors where congestion can restrict further growth.
You May Like
Trending Searches Today |
- Odisha Railway Projects Get ₹9,450 Crore Boost
- Sugar Stockholding Limits Tightened by India Govt
- Supreme Court Directs Odisha Govt on Dara Singh Release Plea
- Odisha Revenue Department WhatsApp Chatbot Launches 16 Services
- Sarala Puraskar 2026 Goes to Poet Ashutosh Parida
Amazon Online Shopping
Releated Post | Dharmendra Pradhan welcomes ₹9,450 crore railway projects, saying three Odisha routes will boost connectivity, tourism and industry
Sambalpur MP Dharmendra Pradhan has welcomed the Centre’s approval of four railway multitracking projects worth ₹9,450 crore, describing the investment as a major step for Odisha’s infrastructure and economic growth.
Three of the approved projects directly involve Odisha. Pradhan thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, saying the expansion of key railway corridors would improve the state’s transport capacity and strengthen logistics.
The projects were cleared by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs under the PM Gati Shakti framework.
Dharmendra Pradhan Odisha Railway Projects to Boost Connectivity
Pradhan highlighted the proposed expansion of the Kharagpur-Bhadrak, Bhadrak-Haridaspur and Cuttack-Paradeep railway corridors.
In a post on X, he said the projects would give fresh momentum to Odisha’s tourism and industrial sectors while creating wider employment opportunities.
The investment is particularly significant for Odisha because the three corridors connect important passenger and freight routes. Additional railway lines can allow more trains to operate without placing the same pressure on existing tracks.
Dharmendra Pradhan Odisha Railway Projects Linked to PM Gati Shakti
The projects form part of the government’s wider infrastructure planning under PM Gati Shakti, which aims to improve coordination between different transport networks.
The Odisha components include the 173-km fourth line between Kharagpur and Bhadrak, the 75-km fourth line between Bhadrak and Haridaspur, and 72 km of third and fourth lines between Cuttack and Paradeep.
A fourth project, covering 90 km between Gummidipundi and Gudur, will pass through Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
Odisha Railway Expansion to Reach 6,448 Villages
According to officials, the four projects together will add around 410 km to the Indian Railways network across West Bengal, Odisha, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.
The expanded network is expected to improve connectivity to approximately 6,448 villages, covering a combined population of nearly 60 lakh people.
For Odisha, better rail connectivity could have implications beyond passenger travel. Faster and more reliable movement of goods can support industries, ports, tourism destinations and local businesses that depend on efficient transportation.
The Cuttack-Paradeep corridor is particularly important for freight movement because of the region’s industrial and port-linked activity. Additional capacity could help ease pressure on existing infrastructure as freight volumes grow.
Pradhan’s response also reflects the political significance of the projects for Odisha, with the state’s railway infrastructure increasingly being linked to broader development goals.
Once completed, the additional tracks are expected to provide greater operational flexibility for Indian Railways and improve the movement of both passengers and freight.
For Odisha, the key question now will be how quickly the approved projects move from sanction to construction and eventual commissioning. The impact on tourism, industry and employment will ultimately depend on timely execution and effective integration with the state’s wider transport network.
Amazon Online Shopping
