Bhubaneswar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated 75 redeveloped railway stations, including seven in Odisha, under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme.
The seven stations — Balangir, Barpali, Paralakhemundi, Talcher, Kesinga, Baripada, and Bimalgarh — have undergone comprehensive redevelopment at a total cost of approximately Rs 109 crore. The upgrades aim to create modern, passenger-friendly facilities while retaining the cultural identity and architectural heritage of each region.
The Amrit Bharat Station Scheme focuses on the holistic transformation of railway stations with enhanced amenities such as new station buildings, improved circulating areas, upgraded waiting halls, modern toilets, better platform shelters, digital passenger information systems, enhanced lighting, standardised signage, and seamless multimodal integration. Where required by operational needs, stations have also received 12-metre-wide Foot Over Bridges equipped with lifts to ensure barrier-free access for all passengers. Local art, culture, and architectural elements have been incorporated into the designs to reflect the unique character of the surrounding areas.
These redeveloped stations are expected to greatly improve passenger convenience, boost regional connectivity, and support tourism, trade, and local economic growth.
Paralakhemundi’s Long-Pending Demands
The inauguration of the Paralakhemundi railway station, however, revived demand for better train services. Residents, daily commuters, and rail enthusiasts have pointed out a glaring gap: despite Paralakhemundi’s status as the Gajapati district headquarters and a terminal station under the Rayagada Railway Division, it still lacks a single dedicated train originating from its platforms.
Key demands include extending the Palasa–Cuttack Passenger and Palasa–Bhubaneswar MEMU services to Paralakhemundi, alongside extending all other Palasa-bound trains. Locals are also pushing for at least one weekly train to both Hyderabad and Howrah. To support these services, the Ministry of Railways is urged to accelerate pending works under the Rayagada Division, specifically the construction of two loop lines, additional stabling tracks, and essential washing and watering facilities.
Security is another pressing issue. Following the reorganisation of railway divisions, locals have been calling for an RPF barrack at the station to safeguard passengers. Additionally, community members expressed frustration over delays in developing crossing stations on the Naupada–Gunupur single-line section, noting that Paralakhemundi remains one of the route’s highest revenue generators.
Beyond infrastructure, there is a strong push to honor the station’s legacy. As Odisha’s first royal railway station, residents are urging the Ministry to accord it heritage status and provide an update on renaming it after the Maharaja of Paralakhemundi. They also proposed installing statues of Maharaja Goura Chandra Gajapati and Maharaja Krushna Chandra Gajapati, building an on-site museum, and naming future trains after local landmarks like Mahendragiri, Mahendratanaya, or Gajapati.
While the community highly appreciates the station’s recent facelift under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, they maintain that this upgrade should not be the final stop, but rather the catalyst for long-overdue connectivity and infrastructural growth.
