New Delhi: The Centre has allocated funds to the tune of Rs 10,599 crore to the State in the Railway Budget for the financial year 2025-26, announced Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw here on 3 February.
Stating record budgetary allocation has been made for Odisha for the upcoming financial year, Shri Vaishnaw said Rs 10,599 crore has been allocated for railway development in Odisha, marking a 12.5-fold increase from the Rs 838 crore allocated during the 2009-2014 period. This allocation is Rs 13 crore more than the fund provided in the last Budget, he said.
Between 2014 and 2025, 186 km of new tracks are going to be laid in the State, which will be 3.5 times more than the 53 km added during the previous period, he said.
Odisha’s electrification efforts have seen a 4.5-fold increase, with 138 km of electrified track during 2014-2025 compared to just 29 km in the previous term. Over 2,046 km of new tracks have been constructed since 2014, surpassing Malaysia’s entire rail network in scale, the Minister said.
Odisha has also achieved 100% electrification with 1,516 km of track electrified, he pointed out.
Currently, 48 new track projects are underway, with a total of 4,784 km of tracks being developed and an investment of Rs 73,723 crore. The budget includes Rs 2,379 crore for the development of 59 stations across Odisha, including key hubs like Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Puri, Sambalpur, and Rourkela.
Similarly, the Kavach safety system has been sanctioned for 1,898 km of rail line, with ongoing work and tendering for 645 km. A total of 1,000 locomotives will be integrated with the system to enhance safety.
Since 2014, 522 rail flyovers and under-bridges have been constructed. Additionally, 43 lifts, 18 escalators, and Wi-Fi have been installed at 234 stations.
Six Vande Bharat trains now run across Odisha, connecting 17 districts and 25 unique stoppages, offering modern, high-speed travel for passengers, Shri Vaishnaw said.
An Amrit Bharat Express, running between Malda Town and Bengaluru, connects five states, enhancing regional connectivity.
Odisha has received over Rs 10,000 crore annually for railway development over the past three years, contributing to a total investment of Rs 78,000 crore in the State’s railway sector. Furthermore, an additional Rs. 20,000 crore worth of projects have been sanctioned during the current government’s tenure.
The multi-tracking project from Kolkata to Chennai is progressing rapidly, with significant work completed between Kolkata and Bhadrak. Third-line work is already underway, and the fourth line will be processed in the future, he added.
Shri Vaishnaw extended his gratitude to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Chief Minister Mohan Majhi for their unwavering support to Odisha’s railway development, emphasizing the importance of the “Double Engine Government” model for this massive transformation.
The Railways Minister said ongoing projects and future investments will strengthen Odisha’s position as a key player in India’s railway network and contribute significantly to regional economic growth.