Odisha Sees Record Progress In Rail Projects With Over 81% Budget Utilisation In 2024-25: ECoR

Bhubaneswar: Odisha has seen record progress with highest-ever railway budget utilisation in a financial year, with 81.78% of the allocated funds already spent in 2024-25, the East Coast Railway (ECoR) informed on Saturday.

Budget Allocation & Expenditure

Of the ₹10,586 crore allocated for the fiscal year 2024-25, Rs 8,657.23 crore was utilised till January on railway projects aimed at improving connectivity, safety and infrastructure across the region.

New Projects Sanctioned

To strengthen Odisha’s railway infrastructure, 8 new railway projects worth ₹18,118 crore was sanctioned in the fiscal year 2024-25. These projects include:

• Gunupur-Theruvali New Line (73.62 km): Costing ₹1,326 crore, this new line will benefit Rayagada district.

• Junagarh Road-Nabrangpur New Line (116.21 km): At a cost of ₹3,274 crore, this line will connect Kalahandi and Nabarangpur districts.

• Malkangiri-Pandurangapuram New Line (173.61 km): Costing ₹4,109 crore, this project will connect Odisha with Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

• Badampahar-Kendujhargarh New Line (82.06 km): A ₹2,107 crore project benefiting Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj districts.

• Bangriposi-Gorumahisani New Line (85.60 km): A ₹2,549 crore investment in Mayurbhanj district.

• Buramara-Chakulia New Line (59.96 km): At ₹1,639 crore, this project connects Mayurbhanj, Jharkhand, and West Bengal.

• Bargarh Road to Nuapara Road (138.32 km): A ₹2,621.92 crore project aimed at improving connectivity in western Odisha.

• Puri-Konark Railway Line (32 km): ₹492 crore sanctioned for the new rail line connecting these iconic tourist destinations.

Major Railway Flyovers To Improve Connectivity

As part of the effort to modernise and improve train services, 5 major rail flyovers were sanctioned, costing ₹1173.12 crore.

• Sambalpur Station to Sambalpur City Station (8.10 km): ₹288.61 crore for this important flyover project connecting Sambalpur city and Sarla station to ease traffic from Sambalpur Main Station.

• Khurda Road Station Railway Flyover: ₹191.87 crore allocated to alleviate train traffic congestion at Khurda Road station for trains from Puri heading for Bhubaneswar.

• Rail Flyover in Cuttack connecting Rajathagarh-Radhakishorepur-Machhapur (10.89 km): Rs 268.92 crore project to alleviate train traffic congestion connecting Rajathgarh, Radhakishorepur, and Machhapur railway stations in Cuttack. This infrastructure will improve operations by allowing simultaneous train movements, reducing delays from cross-traffic.

• Titilagarh Rail Flyover (8.11 km): ₹183.89 crore to ease train operations in the region.

• Singapur Road Station in Rayagada (5.50 km): ₹239.83 crore to ease congestion on the Raipur-Vizianagaram rail line.

Apart from this, Final Location Surveys for double line flyover at Lajkura in Sundargarh district was also sanctioned to improve rail infrastructure and boosting the efficiency of rail transportation.

Khurda Road-Balangir Rail Line Project

This important rail project, sanctioned in 1994-95, had faced delays due to land acquisition challenges. However, with ₹1160 crore allocated for the project in this fiscal, the expenditure as of January 2025 stands at approximately ₹913 crore. It is expected that expenditure will reach more than ₹1,100 crore by the end of this financial year, the ECoR released said.

It further stated that the Odisha Government has actively facilitated the land acquisition process, and work is progressing steadily, with major approvals and permits now in place. “In the current financial year, Rail Line construction work target for the 74 Kms in Khurda Road-Balangir Rail Line project between Sonepur and Purunakatak has already been completed creating a history for this public centric rail line project,” it added.

Redevelopment Of Key Railway Stations

There has been significant redevelopment in Bhubaneswar, Puri, and Cuttack railway stations.

Bhubaneswar railway station: Over ₹269 crore has been spent, and 60% of the project has been completed. The work of re-development of Bhubaneswar station was sanctioned by Railway Board in June 2022. “The work is in advanced stage with the buildings on both sides of the station completed and finishing works are in progress.  The work of elevated road has commenced on the main entry (West) side. Apart from this, Rs 50 crore have been spent at Puri railway station and Rs 168.39 crore at Cuttack railway station.”

Track Renewal 

For the fiscal year 2024-25, ₹1,134 crore was allocated for track renewal in ECoR with ₹935.77 crore (around 80% of the budget) already expended. Of the targeted 365-km, 341 km has already been completed.

Safety Initiatives

In ECoR, ₹1,290.36 crore has been spent towards safety initiatives, which comprises approximately 78% of the allocated budget for safety projects. This includes, Level Crossing, ROB/RUB, Track Renewal, Bridge Works and Signaling & Telecom works. Apart from this, Ministry of Railways has also recently sanctioned ₹275.01 crore for safety fencing along railway tracks at Bhubaneswar and Palasa railway stations over Khurda Road Division along with Brahmapur-Golanthara rail section.

Signal & Telecom

The Automatic Block Signaling (ABS) system is being deployed across key railway sections, including the Jakhapura-Nergundi and Khurda Road-Golanthara. This advanced system will enhance the train operational capacity and safety of trains. The ECoR has initiated a major safety enhancement project by planning the installation of the advanced Kavach system between Ranital (Bhadrak) in Odisha and Duvvada (Visakhapatnam) in Andhra Pradesh, a vital section of the Howrah-Chennai Main Line covering a distance of 595 km. Tender has been notified for the survey, design, supply, installation, testing, and commissioning of Kavach equipment, as well as other associated works, at an estimated value of ₹280 crore, it said.