Bhubaneswar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay foundation stone and inaugurate several railway projects worth Rs 2,320 crore in Odisha at 12.30 pm on Monday through videoconferencing.
These include redevelopment of 21 stations with an investment of Rs 900 crore under the Amrit Bharat stations scheme. The stations are Bimlagarh, Jaroli, Rairangpur, Panposh, Baleswar, Betnoti, Sambalpur City, Jharsuguda Road, Titlagarh, Kesinga, Rayagada, Paralakhemundi, Koraput, Jeypore, Talcher, Raghunathpur, Paradeep, Kendujhargarh, Bhadrak, Belpahar, and Brajarajnagar.
Among these, 13 fall under ECoR and six stations under the South Eastern Railway (SER) while two belong to the South East Central Railway (SECR).
These stations will act as ‘City Centres’ integrating both sides of the city and will have modern passenger amenities like roof plaza, beautiful landscaping, inter modal connectivity, improved modern façade, kids play area, kiosks, and food courts. They will be redeveloped as environment friendly and also Divyang friendly. The design of these station buildings will be inspired by local culture, heritage and architecture, official sources said.
These 21 stations are among the 57 railway stations in the state identified by the Indian Railways for a major makeover at a cost of around Rs 3,000 crore. Work on 25 stations, including Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Puri, are already in different stages under the first phase of the scheme.
The Monday event will also see inauguration and foundation stone laying of 52 road over bridges (ROB) and road under bridges (RUB) in Odisha. The cumulative project cost for these stands at Rs 1,420 crore. In the ECoR zone alone, 30 ROB/RUBs are slated for development at an estimated cost of Rs 1,288 crore. The ROB/RUB projects aim to bring visible benefits to the public, removing traffic barriers, enhancing safety, and improving overall transportation efficiency.
ECoR sources further said that 25 railway projects, pertaining to Khurda Road division, will be a part of the ‘laying foundation stone/inauguration/dedication” programme. Two functions for laying of founsation stone for ROB will be organised near Bhubaneswar.
1. LC Gate No.183 between Barang and Mancheswar Railway stations, near Kalarahang Road, Kalarahang.
2. LC Gate No.184 between Barang and Mancheswar Railway stations, near Patia NAC road, Patia.
