Bhubaneswar: Odisha will be a major beneficiary when Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicates a plethora of railway projects worth over Rs 85,000 crore on Tuesday.
In a major boost to Railways’ infrastructure and connectivity, Modi will dedicate and lay foundation stone for 274 railway projects in Odisha.
These include 162 Electronic Interlocking systems, 41 One Station One Product (OSOP) stalls, 50 Solar power stations, 5 Goods Sheds, 9 new lines, doubling and 3rd line projects, 4 Auto signalling systems, 1 Gati Sakthi terminal, 1 Jan Ausadhi Kendra and 1 Rail coach restaurant.
The PM will also flag off the third Vande Bharat Express for people of Odisha. It will run between Puri and Visakhapatnam, with stops at Khurda Road, Brahmapur, Palasa, Srikakulam Road and Vizianagram.
The train will run six days a week, except Saturdays.
The new lines, doubling and 3rd line projects are – Rs 234 cr Haridaspur-Byree (16.8 km) of Bhadrak-Nergundi 3rd Line section, Rs 131 crore Damanjodi-Baiguda (14.6 km) of Korapur-Raigada doubling section, Rs 167 crore Singapur Road-Rayagada (9.2 km) of Vijianagam-Titlagarh 3rd Line, Rs123 crore Similiguda-Araku-Gorapur (21.6 km) of Kotavlasa-Koraput doubling section, Rs 47 crore Kota-Boddavara (7.3 km) section of Kotavalasa-Koraput doubling, Rs.550 crore Jharsuguda-Jamaga (53 km) of Bilaspur-Jharsuguda 4th line section, Rs 61.73 crore Link B-Link C Bondamunda of (Bondamunda-Ranchi doubling section), Rs 129.95 crore Nawagaon-Orga (6.8 km) of Ranchi-Bondamunda doubling section and Rs 36.12 crore Ranital-Ranital (L) 4th Line (3 km) of Narayangarh-Bhadrak 4th Line section.
The OSOP scheme aims to promote ‘Vocal for Local’ vision of Indian government, provide a market for local/indigenous products and create additional income opportunities for marginalised sections of the society. It aims to provide enhanced opportunities for livelihood to local artisans, potters, weavers/handloom weavers, craftsmen etc. through provision of sale outlets at railways stations across the country.
