On 18th May 2023, Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, laid the foundation stone and dedicated to the nation, several railway projects worth more than Rs 8000 crores in Odisha through video conferencing.
- During the event, the PM flagged off the Vande Bharat Express between Puri(Odisha) and Howrah(West Bengal).
- He also laid the foundation stone for the redevelopment of Puri and Cuttack railway stations.
Vande Bharat Express between Puri-Howrah:
i.This vande bharat express reduced the travel time between Puri and Howrah to only 6 hours 30 min.
ii.The train covering around 500 kilometres (Km) will pass through Khordha, Cuttack, Jajpur, Bhadrak, and Balasore districts in Odisha and Paschim Medinipur, and Purba Medinipur districts in West Bengal.
Note: 15 Vande Bharat Trains are already running in various states of India giving a push to the economy of India.
PM Laid Foundation Stone for the Redevelopment of Puri and Cuttack railway stations:
The redevelopment of the Puri and Cuttack railway stations aims to provide a world-class experience to rail travellers by equipping the stations with modern amenities.
Puri railway stations:
i.The new design of the Puri station is inspired by the Odisha’s temple architecture and the redevelopment is expected to be completed in 36 months.
ii.With a budget of Rs 162 crore, the station is being equipped with world-class amenities, including environmental and waste management systems, aesthetic lighting, and comfortable waiting and retiring rooms.
iii.This station is designed as a green building, adhering to gold and platinum standards
iv.Its sustainable features of the station will enable it to withstand wind speeds of up to 250 mph.
Cuttack Railway Station:
i.The budget for the renovation of Cuttack Railway Station is set at Rs 303 crore.
ii.The station is designed through a public poll on Twitter.
iii.The station will feature a range of amenities, including waiting rooms, dormitories, a food court, retiring rooms, lifts, escalators, and a dedicated baby feeding room.
Other Highlights:
i.The Prime Minister dedicated 100% electrification of the rail network in Odisha which will reduce the operating and maintenance cost and reduce reliance on imported crude oil.
- With this Odisha becomes one of the states in India where 100% electrification of rail lines has been achieved.
ii.He also dedicated other railway projects including,
- Doubling of the Sambalpur-Titlagarh rail line.
- New broad gauge rail line between Angul-Sukinda.
- New broad-gauge line between Bichhupali-Jhartarbha.
- 3rd line connecting Manoharpur-Rourkela-Jharsuguda-Jamga.
These projects will cater to the increased traffic demands as a result of rapid industrial development in the steel, power & mining sectors in Odisha and will also help ease the pressure on passenger traffic in these rail sections.
Recent Related News:
On 24th March 2023, Narendra Modi, Prime Minister (PM) of India, laid the foundation stone and dedicated development projects worth more than Rs. 1780 crores in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh(UP) during the programme organised at Sampurnanand Sanskrit University ground.
This is in line with the efforts towards transforming the landscape of Varanis and enhancing the ease of living for the people living in Varanasi and adjoining cities.
About Odisha:
Chief Minister– Naveen Patnaik
Governor– Ganeshi Lal
Festival– Raja Parba; Rath Yatra; Nuakhai
Stadium– Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium; East Coast Railway Stadium
