Bhubaneswar: In a landmark event aimed at strengthening Odisha’s rail infrastructure and boosting regional connectivity, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today laid the foundation stone, inaugurated, and dedicated to the nation several critical railway projects worth more than ₹2,750 crore. The special programme, held in Bhubaneswar, also witnessed the virtual flagging off of two new train services connecting Boudh and Purunakatak to the broader national railway network.
Among the key highlights was the laying of the foundation stone for the 3rd and 4th rail lines between Sarla and Sason, a 16-kilometre stretch on the busy Jharsuguda–Sambalpur section. This project, estimated at ₹252 crore, is expected to decongest the route and catalyze industrial development in the region.
Prime Minister Modi also inaugurated the 73-kilometre new railway line between Sonepur and Purunakatak, a major part of the ambitious Khurda Road–Balangir rail project. With an investment of ₹1,376 crore, this line connects Boudh District Headquarters to the national railway grid for the first time, fulfilling a long-standing aspiration of local residents and marking a transformative moment in the region’s transportation history.
Several key infrastructure components were dedicated to the nation, including a freight train maintenance facility with routine wagon overhauling at Sarla built at a cost of ₹165 crore, a subway between Bamra and Dharuadihi (₹10 crore), a 5-kilometre link between C–Dumetra as part of the Bondamunda–Ranchi doubling project (₹98 crore), and a new Road Over Bridge at Jaleswar (₹89 crore). Additionally, the 4th rail line between Jharsuguda and Jamga, part of the larger 206-kilometre Jharsuguda–Bilaspur project, was formally dedicated.
During the programme, the Prime Minister flagged off two new weekly train services, bringing much-awaited connectivity to Boudh. The 18313/18314 Boudh–Bhubaneswar–Boudh Weekly Express and the 18311/18312 Sambalpur–Boudh–Sambalpur Weekly Express will bridge the transportation gap for residents of Boudh and adjoining districts, boosting access to healthcare, education, employment, and cultural integration.
This mega rail infrastructure boost comes at a crucial time as the nation celebrates 11 years of ‘Seva, Sushasan aur Garib Kalyan’ under the Prime Minister’s leadership. It also marks a year of momentum under Odisha’s new state government.
The projects are poised to unlock multiple socio-economic benefits for the region. Improved freight infrastructure will support industrial expansion and enhance opportunities for small and medium enterprises. Farmers will gain better access to agri-markets and logistics, enabling improved incomes and rural prosperity. Students and patients from remote districts will benefit from seamless connectivity to educational institutions and hospitals in major cities like Bhubaneswar and Sambalpur.
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