Puri: As part of efforts to boost connectivity in coastal Odisha, the Indian Railways has accelerated the much-awaited rail line project between Puti and Konark.
The 32-km rail line is expected to become a crucial link in the proposed coastal rail triangle connecting Bhubaneswar, Puri, and Konark.
The project was sanctioned by the Railway Board on February 19, 2024, and later declared a Special Railway Project on March 7, 2024. It is being executed under the administrative jurisdiction of the East Coast Railway (ECoR) zone.
Officials said the project is expected to make travel easier for tourists and pilgrims who currently depend mainly on road transport between the two towns.
Notably, the ECoR has already started the land acquisition process for the Puri-Konark railway line. Around 521.48 acres of land will be acquired for the project. Out of this, around 438.81 acres is private land spread across 36 villages, while 82.67 acres is government land located in 33 villages. No forest land will be affected during construction work, sources said.
For 2026-27, the project has received an allocation of Rs 138.38 crore to support land acquisition and construction work. The acquisition process is being carried out under the Railway (Amendment) Act, 2008.
Notifications have already been issued across several villages in Puri and Gop tehsils.
In Puri tehsil, the notifications cover nine villages and 108.43 acres of land. In Gop tehsil, 24 villages covering 242.14 acres have been included in the process.
The Puri-Konark rail line project is expected to improve tourism and business activity along Odisha’s coastal belt. The railway corridor will provide a direct travel option between the Jagannath Temple in Puri and the UNESCO-listed Konark Sun Temple.
The new railway line is also expected to support local economies in smaller villages located between Puri and Konark by improving access and movement.
