In a significant advancement for Odisha’s infrastructure, the railway budget for the state has surged 13-fold over the last 12 years.
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw revealed this information in the Lok Sabha today, underscoring the government’s commitment to enhancing Odisha’s rail system.
The minister reported that the annual railway budget allocation for Odisha was ₹838 crore from 2009 to 2014. By 2026-27, this amount has dramatically increased to ₹10,928 crore, marking a nearly 13-fold rise. Furthermore, the pace of railway track construction has also accelerated, increasing from an average of 53 km per year between 2009 and 2014 to 186 km annually from 2014 to 2026.
55 Major Projects Approved
The government has greenlit 55 railway projects in Odisha, which include 19 new lines and 36 projects focused on doubling and widening existing tracks. These initiatives aim to add 4,256 km of new or enhanced railway tracks, with a total projected cost of ₹81,739 crore. Several projects, such as the Daitari-Bansapani new line, Jharsuguda-Sardega new line, Haridaspur-Paradip new line, and Sambalpur-Titlagarh doubling, have already been completed at an expenditure of around ₹3,200 crore. Currently, construction is ongoing for 26 projects.
Amrit Bharat Station Redevelopment
As part of the ambitious Amrit Bharat Station initiative, redevelopment has been completed at nine stations in Odisha, including Balangir, Baripada, Barpali, Bimalagad, Cuttack, Kesinga, Khariar Road, Paralakhemundi, and Talcher. Additionally, redevelopment is underway at 50 more stations, with plans to transform Bhubaneswar into a world-class facility. Work is also progressing on Cuttack, Puri, Mancheswar, and Lingaraj Road stations, alongside the initiation of the Gopalpur-Rairakhol new line construction.
Gati Shakti Cargo Terminals & Full Electrification
Odisha currently boasts 12 operational Gati Shakti Cargo Terminals, with another 36 terminals having received initial approval. The state has achieved complete electrification of its broad-gauge network, and new lines and doubling projects are being developed with electrification from the outset.
Strong Focus on Safety
Safety measures have seen substantial enhancements, with the national railway safety budget growing from ₹39,200 crore in 2013-14 to ₹1,20,389 crore in 2026-27. The number of stations equipped with electronic interlocking has increased to 3,691, a fourfold rise since 2013-14, while fog safety devices have surged by 352 times. The indigenous Kavach automatic train protection system is now operational on routes totaling 1,465 km (Kavach 3.2) and 2,490 km (Kavach 4.0), with total investments reaching ₹3,874.9 crore.
Minister Vaishnaw emphasized that all projects are being executed in a timely and coordinated manner under the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan.
These developments mark a transformative era for Odisha’s connectivity, ensuring faster trains, improved passenger amenities, enhanced freight operations, and significantly better safety for millions of travelers and goods throughout the state.
