Bhubaneswar: Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw conducted an inspection of the ongoing redevelopment work at Puri station on Friday, reaffirming the commitment to modernise key rail infrastructure across Odisha under the Amrit Station Scheme.
During the inspection, Vaishnaw took detailed stock of the progress and urged officials to expedite the remaining work to ensure timely completion. He expressed satisfaction over the pace. Vaishnaw also added that the land acquisition work is going on in full swing for Puri-Konark Rail Line.
The Minister emphasised that Puri Railway Station, once redeveloped, will stand as a world-class facility with a blend of heritage aesthetics and modern passenger amenities. The station’s redevelopment falls under the Amrit Station Scheme, for which foundation stone laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 18, 2023, with a project cost of Rs 177.41 crores.
Speaking to the media persons, Vaishnaw said that the Amrit Station concept is a vision of Prime Minister on “Virashat Bhi, Vikas Bhi”.
The inspection was accompanied by senior railway officials, including Parmeshwar Funkwal, General Manager, East Coast Railway, and H.S. Bajwa, Divisional Railway Manager, Khurda Road.
Key Highlights of the Redeveloped Puri Station:
• Green Building Design (Gold Standard) with structures capable of withstanding wind speeds up to 250 kmph.
• Building & Concourse Area: 24,185 sq.m.
• Circulating Area: 26,100 sq.m.
• Platform Area (8 Platforms): 21,600 sq.m.
• Structure: Ground + 3 floors.
• Passenger Amenities Include:
o Automatic Ticket Vending Machines
o Baggage Scanners
o Tourist Information & Booking Centre
o Food Court, Jana Ahara & Shops
o Centralized CCTV Monitoring
o 4 Escalators, 4 Passenger Lifts, and 1 Staff Lift
o 23 Retiring Rooms & 150-bed Dormitories
o 60-bed TTE Rest Room
o Paid Lounge, Free Waiting Lounge, Baby Feeding Room
o Child Help Desk & “May I Help You” Booth
• Divyangjan-Friendly Features:
o Barrier-free entry/exit ramps
o Earmarked parking
o Non-slippery walkways
o Specially designed toilets and drinking water taps on each platform
o High-visibility signage for navigation
As of now, significant portion of the construction work has been completed, bringing the vision of a modern, accessible and passenger-friendly Puri Railway Station closer to reality.
