President to Dedicate ₹732-Crore Rail Projects, Boosting Odisha’s Connectivity and Capacity

Bhubaneswar: Odisha’s railway infrastructure is set for a significant capacity expansion with the dedication of two multi-tracking projects worth more than ₹732 crore to the nation on June 20, a move expected to improve connectivity, ease congestion and strengthen freight and passenger movement across key rail corridors.

The projects, developed under East Coast Railway, will be dedicated by the President of India during a programme at Rairangpur in the presence of the Prime Minister.

Railway officials said the new infrastructure has been designed to increase line capacity, improve operational efficiency and support Odisha’s growing industrial and economic requirements through faster and more reliable rail connectivity.

One of the projects, the Jakhapura–Jajpur Keonjhar Road–Baitarani Road Multi-tracking Project, has been completed at a cost of ₹323 crore over a stretch of 19 kilometres. It forms part of the larger Bhadrak–Nergundi Multi-tracking Project, aimed at strengthening capacity along the heavily utilised Howrah–Chennai main line.

The project is expected to reduce rail congestion, improve punctuality and facilitate smoother movement of both passenger and freight services. It will also enhance logistics support for movement of coal and other bulk commodities to ports, industries and commercial hubs in the region.

The second project, the Hindol Road–Meramandali Multi-tracking Project, developed at a cost of ₹409 crore across 27 kilometres, is part of the Budhapank–Salegaon Multi-tracking Project.

According to railway authorities, the additional line capacity created under the project will improve train handling capability, minimise operational bottlenecks and support uninterrupted movement of industrial cargo including coal, steel and power-sector inputs.

Together, the two projects are expected to enable operation of additional passenger and freight services while improving overall network efficiency and regional connectivity.

Officials said the capacity enhancement works align with the broader goal of developing modern and future-ready railway infrastructure to support economic growth and industrial expansion in Odisha.

The projects are also expected to strengthen transport infrastructure in line with the larger development vision of Viksit Odisha and Viksit Bharat.