“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 450 km expansion of railway lines in the State per year,” said Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Saturday.
Vaishnaw said this while taking stock of the construction work of Bhubaneswar Railway Station being undertaken to transform it into a world-class railway station.
“There was expansion of 450 km of railway lines last year. Around 450 km of expansion work has also been completed this year,” said Vaishnaw.
“Many railway stations in Odisha have been selected among 57 stations in India to be converted into world-class stations. Khordha-Bolangir railway project has 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 Vande Metro Train to Odisha in the coming days,” the Minister added.
Meanwhile, Vaishnaw inaugurated Dasapalla railway station and flagged off train services from there. After the inauguration of the railway service, 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 Khordha Road to Naagaon under Khordha-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 289 km long railway line from Khordha to Bolangir active till 2026.
Dasapalla railway station was given an attractive look for the inauguration programme. After the programme, Vaishnaw is scheduled to take part in a programme of the Postal Department at Kantilo in the afternoon. The Minister will take part in other programmes in Athagarh, Badamba and Narsinghpur on Sunday.