PM Modi Launches Railway Projects Worth Over Rs 8,000 Crore In Odisha

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday (18 May) laid the foundation stone and dedicated to the nation several railway projects worth more than Rs 8000 crores in Odisha via video conferencing.

The projects included flagging off the Vande Bharat Express between Puri and Howrah.

PM Modi also laid the foundation stone of redevelopment of Puri and Cuttack railway stations.

The redeveloped stations will have all modern amenities providing world class experience to the rail passengers.

He also dedicated 100 per cent electrification of the rail network in Odisha. This will reduce the operating and maintenance cost and reduce reliance on imported crude oil.

PM Modi also dedicated the doubling of the Sambalpur-Titlagarh rail line; a new broad gauge rail line between Angul-Sukinda; the third line connecting Manoharpur-Rourkela-Jharsuguda-Jamga and new broad-gauge line between Bichhupali-Jhartarbha.

According to a PMO release, these railway projects will cater to the increased traffic demands as a result of rapid industrial development in steel, power and mining sectors in Odisha and will also help ease the pressure on passenger traffic in these rail sections.

PM Modi credited the participation of every state in this journey and said that the country is moving forward taking every state along.

The Prime Minister said that, unlike earlier times, new India is creating technology indigenously and also taking that to every nook and corner of the country. 

He said that the Centre's policy of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas is benefitting those states, which lagged behind in development.

He said that the budget for railway schemes in Odisha has increased significantly.

PM Modi informed that in 10 years before 2014, only 20 km of railway lines were laid annually in the state, while in the year 2022-23, 120 km long lines were laid in just one year.

He said long pending projects like the Khurda Bolangir line, and the Haridaspur-Paradip line, are being completed rapidly.