Bhubaneswar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone for redevelopment of 554 railway stations including 21 in Odisha and 1500 ROB/RUB projects with project cost of Rs 41,000 crore on February 26.
Speaking to media persons in Bhubaneswar on Friday, Manoj Sharma, General Manger of East Coast Railway (ECoR) said the Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone for 21 Amrit Bharat railway stations in the state with an estimated cost of Rs 900 crore.
The prominent stations that will be developed include Bimlagarh, Jaroli, Rairangpur, Panposh, Baleswar, Betnoti, Sambalpur City, Jharsuguda Road, Titlagarh, Kesinga, Rayagada, Paralakhemundi, Koraput, Jeypore, Talcher, Raghunathpur, Paradeep, Kendujhargarh, Bhadrak, Belpahar, and Brajarajnagar.
Sharma said in the ECoR zone, which also cover parts of Andhara Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, foundation stone will be laid in 22 Amrit Bharat stations with a sanctioned cost of Rs 790 crore. This initiative is expected to enhance station facilities, making travel more comfortable for passengers.
The stations are Naupada, Simhachalam, Bobbili, Srikakulam Rd, Parvatipuram, Chipurupalle, Sambalpur City, Jharsuguda Rd, Titlagarh, Kesinga, Rayagada, Paralakhemundi, Koraput, Jeypore, Talcher, Raghunathpur, Paradeep, Kendujhargarh, Bhadrak, Araku, Kottavalasa and Ichachapuram.
Similarly, 52 Road Over Bridges (ROB) and Road Under Bridges (RUB) projects in Odisha are scheduled for dedication or foundation laying. The cumulative project cost for these stands at Rs 1420 crore. In the ECoR zone alone, 30 ROB/RUBs with a cost of Rs 1,288 crore are slated for development.
The Amrit stations redevelopment project promises improved station accessibility, air concourse, wider Foot Over Bridge (FOB), waiting areas, toilet facilities, lift and escalator installations, and enhanced cleanliness. Passengers can also look forward to amenities such as free Wi-Fi, local product kiosks, executive lounges, and spaces for business meetings.
Similarly, the ROB/RUB projects aim to bring visible benefits to the public, removing traffic barriers, enhancing safety, and improving overall transportation efficiency.
