Rs 7,221-Crore Railway Push: Odisha Gets Three Key Projects To Boost Capacity, Connectivity
The Cuttack-Paradip project, covering 72 km, has been pegged at Rs 2,286 crore: Reports
BHUBANESWAR: Odisha is set to receive a major boost to its railway infrastructure, with the Union Cabinet approving three projects involving an estimated investment of Rs 7,221 crore to expand rail capacity and strengthen connectivity along some of the state’s key industrial and freight corridors.
The projects include construction of the third and fourth railway lines between Cuttack and Paradip, a fourth line between Bhadrak and Haridaspur, and another fourth line between Kharagpur and Bhadrak (Ranital).
The Cuttack-Paradip project, covering 72 km, has been pegged at Rs 2,286 crore. The additional lines are expected to improve rail connectivity to Paradip, one of Odisha’s most important ports and industrial hubs, while facilitating smoother movement of both freight and passengers.
The Centre has also cleared the 75-km fourth railway line between Bhadrak and Haridaspur at an estimated cost of Rs 1,583 crore. The project is expected to enhance capacity on the corridor and improve operational flexibility for train services.
The largest of the three projects is the 173-km fourth line between Kharagpur and Bhadrak (Ranital), which will entail an estimated investment of Rs 3,352 crore.
Together, the three projects will add significant rail capacity across strategically important routes connecting Odisha with its ports, industrial clusters and major markets.
The expansion assumes importance as the state continues to witness growth in industrial activity, particularly in sectors dependent on efficient movement of bulk commodities and manufactured goods. Higher rail capacity could help ease congestion on existing lines and improve the reliability of freight movement.
For Paradip, the additional connectivity is particularly significant as the port handles large volumes of cargo linked to Odisha’s mining, metals and manufacturing sectors.
The projects, according to industry experts, will have a wider economic impact, supporting industrial expansion, improving logistics efficiency and strengthening Odisha’s position as a key eastern gateway for freight and trade.