Bhubaneswar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of several development projects worth Rs 3,800 crore in Odisha during his day visit to the state on Tuesday.
The Prime Minister launched the railway and national highway projects at a special event held at Janata Maidan in Bhubaneswar.
This is the PM’s first visit to the state after attending the swearing-in ceremony of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on June 12.
PM Modi laid the foundation stone and dedicate to the nation railway projects worth more than Rs 2871 crore in Bhubaneswar. These projects will enhance railway infrastructure in Odisha and improve growth and connectivity in the region, the PM said.
Modi also laid the foundation stone of a number of National Highway projects worth more than Rs. 1000 crore.
He said the railway projects are set to enhance rail connectivity, decongest key routes, and contribute to the socio-economic development of the region. The initiatives aim to strengthen the vital rail network across industrial, resource-rich, and tribal-dominated regions of Odisha.
On the occasion, Modi dedicated four key railway sections to the Nation. These are:
1) 25.394 km long Lanjigarh Road-Ambadola-Doikallu Railway Section part of Vizianagaram-Titilagarh 3rd Line Project at a cost of Rs 432 crore. This vital section will bolster capacity on the busy Vizianagaram-Titilagarh route, enhancing connectivity between western Odisha and Andhra Pradesh. Enhanced connectivity will benefit passenger traffic and facilitate smoother freight movement;
2) 22.94 km long Laxmipur Road-Singaram-Tikiri Railway Section of Koraput-Singapur Road Doubling Project at a cost of Rs 260 crore. This project aimed at increasing train movement capacity in southern Odisha, this section will ease freight movement from resource-rich areas to major markets;
3) 40.62 km long Dhenkanal-Sadashibapur-Hindol Road Railway Section of Budhapank-Salegaon 3rd & 4th Line Project at a cost of Rs 540 crore. This project will further augment the capacity on the critical industrial route, ensuring smoother and faster transportation of goods; and
4) 12.5 km long Bangurkela-Nowgaon Railway Section of Bondamunda-Ranchi Doubling Project at a cost of Rs 239 crore. The doubling of this line will significantly reduce congestion and improve connectivity between Odisha and Jharkhand.
Modi laid the foundation stones for the following 4 future projects, marking the commencement of critical new railway developments:
i) 7 km long Flyover between Siju and Paradeep Coaching Yard at a cost of Rs 200 crore which will eliminate surface crossings, ensuring smoother and uninterrupted train movements at Paradeep Port, one of India’s major trade hubs;
ii) Expansion of 18.51 km long Paradeep-Badabandha 3rd & 4th Line at a cost of Rs 300 crore will boost capacity for both freight and passenger traffic, enhancing connectivity to Paradeep Port;
iii) 10.93 km long Doubling of MCRL inner corridor phase-1 at a cost of Rs 152 crore which will provide smooth evacuation of coal; and
iv) The much awaited 41.9 kms long Jeypore-Nabarangpur New Line at a cost of Rs 748 crore will connect the tribal-dominated regions of Jeypore and Nabarangpur, fostering economic growth and providing better access to markets and resources.
This aspirational project will link the tribal-dominated areas of Jeypore and Nabarangpur, providing improved access to markets and services for the region’s people.