Bhubaneswar: During his visit to Odisha on Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation for railway projects worth over Rs2,750 crore. He flagged off a new train service from Boudh to Purunakatak via video conference and launched several key railway infrastructure initiatives.
Key Projects Inaugurated and Launched:
Foundation stone laid for the 3rd and 4th railway lines between Sarala and Sason.
Inauguration of the new Sonpur–Purunakatak railway line, built at a cost of Rs 1,376 crore.
This line is part of the Khurda Road–Balangir railway line and for the first time connects Boudh district headquarters to the national railway network.
It fulfills a long-standing dream of the local residents.
This region is now officially included on India’s railway map, boosting regional connectivity in western Odisha.
Inauguration of a freight wagon repair workshop at Sarala, built at a cost of Rs 165 crore.
Inauguration of additional railway projects:
Subway at Bamra worth Rs 10 crore
Bondamunda–Ranchi double line project worth Rs 98 crore
Dhruvadihi section second line construction
Link cabin and facilities at Dumetra section
Road overbridge (ROB) in Jaleswar built at ₹89 crore
Inauguration of the 4th rail line between Jharsuguda and Jamga
This 15-km stretch was constructed at a cost of Rs 252 crore
Expected to reduce traffic congestion in the Jharsuguda–Sambalpur railway section and boost both freight and passenger movement, supporting industrial growth
Inauguration of 73-km long new Sonpur–Purunakatak railway line
Launch of New Trains:
Boudh–Bhubaneswar Weekly Express
Sambalpur–Boudh Weekly Express
Boudh–Bhubaneswar New Weekly Express
With the launch, inauguration, and foundation laying of so many railway projects and new train services, Odisha’s economic development and rail connectivity are expected to significantly improve—especially in western Odisha. These efforts are aligned with the vision of a Developed India and Developed Odisha, enabling greater regional integration and faster progress across sectors.