Sambalpur: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday attended a high-level review meeting of the East Coast Railway’s Sambalpur Division, and stressed the need for speedy implementation of ongoing projects in western Odisha.
Apart from Dharmendra, who represents Sambalpur in Lok Sabha, MPs from Balangir, Bargarh, and other neighbouring constituencies attended the meeting.
Underlining the urgency of railway infrastructure upgrades in the region, the Union Minister urged officials to fast-track long-pending projects that are critical for regional connectivity, passenger convenience, and industrial growth.
Key projects under review included the Khurda–Balangir rail line, Talcher–Bimlagarh rail project, and Jharsuguda–Jeypore line doubling.
Dharmendra announced that the Khurda–Balangir line is expected to be completed by 2026, calling it a major achievement under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership and Railway Minister Ashwini
Vaishnaw’s coordination.
The government has sanctioned funds for the new Bargarh–Nuapada rail line, with survey work already underway. Alignment changes in the Barkot–Jharsuguda line to extend up to Lapanga, and plans for inner and outer lines at Chhendipada to facilitate coal transport, were also discussed. These measures will boost freight efficiency and industrial activity in the region, he said.
Passenger services were a major focus, with proposals for four Vande Bharat trains connecting western Odisha to Visakhapatnam, Raipur, Ranchi, and coastal Odisha. Redevelopment of stations under the Amrit Bharat scheme—including Sambalpur, Balangir, Kesinga, and Bargarh—was also prioritised. Work on Sambalpur station is set to begin next month, alongside plans for lifts, foot overbridges, and underpasses across 100 stations from Koraput to Sundargarh.
The Union Minister said the upcoming rail coach servicing centre at Maneswar (Sambalpur) will strengthen maintenance capacity. He called for a larger western Odisha coordination meeting involving Bilaspur Zone and Chakradharpur Division to streamline passenger services and infrastructure upgrades.
The meeting was attended by MPs Pradeep Purohit (Bargarh), Sangeeta Kumari Singhdeo (Balangir), and lawmakers from Kalahandi and Chhattisgarh’s Mahasamund constituency, along with senior railway officials.