Ashwini Vaishnaw: Odisha Saw Rapid Railway Development Under Modi Regime

Bhubaneswar: Union railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Saturday sounded a bit political as he inaugurated the Nuagaon-Daspalla section of the Khurda Road-Bolangir at Daspalla in Odisha’s Nayagarh district.

He said the railway development in the state marched at a snail’s pace and now it is fast-expanding under the Narendra Modi government.

“Before 2014, Odisha witnessed only a 50 km expansion of railway lines per year. However, after Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power, there has been a 450 km expansion of railway lines in the state per year,” said Vaishnaw.

He informed that the state saw expansion of 450 km of railway lines last year and around 450 km of expansion work has also been completed this year

Stating that many railway stations in Odisha found place among 57 stations in India to be converted into world-class stations, the minister said Khurda-Bolangir railway project had been completed from Daspalla and Bolangir to Sonepur.

“PM Modi has also presented Amrit Bharat and Vande Bharat Express Trains to Odisha. The PM will also present the Vande Metro Train to Odisha in the coming days,” the Minister added.

After the inauguration of the railway service from Nuagaon-Daspalla, four trains, including two passengers, one express and one MEMU train will provide regular railway services to Dasapalla.

As per reports, while train service has resumed in a stretch of 92 km railway track from Khurda Road to Nuagaon under Khurda-Bolangir railway project, a 15 km railway line from Nuagaon to Dasapalla station has also become active.

Moreover, railway service has started from Bolangir to Bicchupali in Sonepur. A target has been set to run the service till Purunakatak in Boudh district till March. It has also been decided to make the 289 km long railway line from Khurda to Bolangir active till 2026.