THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU
NEW DELHI, AUGUST 19, 2026
Odisha is set for a major expansion of its rail
infrastructure, with the Union Cabinet on Wednesday approving three of four
multitracking projects covering key routes in the state as part of a Rs
9,450-crore nationwide capacity enhancement plan that will add about 410 km to
the Indian Railways network.
The projects, approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic
Affairs chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, include the 173-km
Kharagpur-Bhadrak (Ranital) fourth line, the 75-km Bhadrak-Haridaspur fourth
line and the 72-km Cuttack-Paradeep (Badabandha) third and fourth lines in
Odisha, besides the 90-km Gummidipundi-Gudur third and fourth line project
spanning Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
The four projects, spread across eight districts in West
Bengal, Odisha, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, are scheduled for completion by
2030-31 and are aimed at substantially boosting rail capacity, easing
congestion and improving operational efficiency and service reliability.
For Odisha, the projects are particularly significant as they
will strengthen rail connectivity to major industrial, freight and tourism
corridors while improving the movement of people, goods and services across the
state.
The multi-tracking works are planned under the PM-Gati Shakti
National Master Plan, with an emphasis on integrated planning, multimodal
connectivity and improved logistics efficiency through stakeholder
consultations.
The projects will enhance connectivity to approximately 6,448
villages with a combined population of about 60 lakh. In Odisha, the improved
rail network is also expected to benefit access to several prominent tourist
and religious destinations, including Bhitarkanika National Park, Kuldiha
Wildlife Sanctuary, Maa Bhadrakali Temple, Maa Dhamarai Temple, Panchalingeswar
Temple, Talsari-Udaypur and Chandipur beaches, Gada Kujanga Jagannath Temple,
Sarala Temple, Dhabaleswar Temple and Lalitgiri.
The capacity augmentation will also support the movement of
key commodities such as coal, iron ore, cement, iron and steel, containers,
automobiles and foodgrains. The projects are expected to generate additional
freight traffic of around 76 million tonnes per annum.
According to the government, the enhanced rail capacity will
also contribute to reducing logistics costs and strengthening the country's
environmental goals. Rail, being an energy-efficient and environment-friendly
mode of transport, is expected to help reduce oil imports by around 13 crore
litres and cut carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 65 crore kg,
equivalent to the plantation of about 2.60 crore trees.
The government said the projects are aligned with the Prime
Minister's vision of a New India and will contribute to comprehensive regional
development by expanding employment and self-employment opportunities.
"The projects are in line with the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s Vision of a New India which will make people of the region “Atmanirbhar” by way of comprehensive development in the area which will enhance their employment/ self-employment opportunities."
With the addition of about 410 km of new rail capacity, the projects are expected to provide Indian Railways with greater operational flexibility while creating stronger links between industrial centres, ports, markets and tourist destinations across the eastern and southern regions.
