India (Commonwealth Union)_ Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the commencement of the redevelopment of 25 railway stations in Odisha under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme through a video-conferencing event on Sunday. The ambitious project, estimated to cost Rs 547.7 crore, aims to enhance the infrastructure and amenities at these stations to improve safety, boost tourism, and spur economic activity.
The selected railway stations for redevelopment are: Sakhigopal, Mancheswar, Dhenkanal, Chhatrapur, Angul, Meramundali, Baluagaon, Lingaraj Temple Road, Talcher Road, Khurda Road, Kantabanji, Bargarh Road, Hirakud, Rairakhol, Barpali, Muniguda, Balangir, Harishankar Road, Bhawanipatna, Khariar Road, and Damanjodi under the East Coast Railway (ECoR) zone. Additionally, Barbil, Rajgangpur, Baripada, and Jaleswar stations fall under the South Eastern Railway (SER) zone.
During the foundation stone-laying ceremony for the redevelopment of 508 railway stations, including the 25 stations in Odisha, the Prime Minister emphasized that modernizing these stations would have a positive impact on tourism and economic growth. He also revealed that approximately 1,300 major railway stations across India are slated for development, with work on 508 Amrit Bharat Railway Stations commencing on this occasion. The Railway Minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw, stressed that the redevelopment efforts are designed with a long-term vision to meet the needs of the next five decades.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, present at the event held at the Hirakud railway station, expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister and Vaishnaw for initiating this transformative project. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to boost the railway infrastructure in Odisha for the state’s overall development. Manmohan Samal, the State president of the BJP, also extended appreciation to Modi for prioritizing the advancement of rail infrastructure in the region. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik attended the foundation laying ceremony virtually from Bhubaneswar, underscoring the significance of this development for Odisha. Similarly, Odisha Minister Ashok Chandra Panda joined the event from Lingaraj Temple Road railway station, while Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi and MLA Susant Rout attended the event from Mancheswar railway station.
Specifically, the railway stations at Baripada and Lingaraj Temple Road will undergo redevelopment at an estimated cost of Rs 17.33 crore and Rs 19 crore, respectively. Additionally, the station at Barbil will see a renovation investment of Rs 4.7 crore, and the Mancheswar railway station will be revamped at an approximate cost of Rs 26 crore. These substantial investments are expected to usher in a new era of modern and efficient railway infrastructure, benefiting the state and its citizens for years to come.
