Major railway project in Odisha gains steam as land acquisition begins for Budhamara–Chakulia line

The Mayurbhanj district administration has initiated the first step toward expanding railway connectivity in northern Odisha, with the land acquisition for the project getting underway.

According to The New Indian Express, Mayurbhanj District Collector Hemakanta Say on Tuesday issued a notification for the tehsildars of Sarashkana and Bangiriposi to commence land acquisition for the Budhamara–Chakulia broad-gauge railway line within a month.

The notification stated that of the 59.96-km railway line, 16.20 km falls under Mayurbhanj district, affecting 23 villages across Sarashkana and Bangiriposi tehsils. The administration has directed the tehsildars to ensure smooth and timely disbursal of compensation by updating Column-2 of the Record of Rights (RoR) for the affected villages in line with revenue laws.

Larger Push for Railway Connectivity in Odisha

Notably, President Droupadi Murmu had laid the foundation stones for three key railway projects in north Odisha on December 7, 2024. The projects include Budhamara–Chakulia (59.96 km, Rs 1,639 crore), Badampahar–Keonjhar (82.06 km, Rs 2,107 crore), and Bangiriposi–Gorumahisani (85.6 km, Rs 2,549 crore).

It is worth noting that the land acquisition process for several railway projects is underway in Odisha. In July, disbursal of Rs 2.45 crore was made for land acquired for the Jeypore–Malkangiri railway project, benefiting 39 people in Mathili panchayat and Khairput block.

Beneficiaries received Rs 10 lakh per acre, and authorities had planned to complete compensation disbursement by December 2025, with project work set to commence in January 2026.

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Acceleration of Key Railway Projects

A September meeting in New Delhi had Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Odisha MPs discuss strategies to expedite construction and land acquisition for 4–5 priority railway lines in the state.

Minister Vaishnaw had then stated that Odisha has received record railway budget allocations in the last 11 years, supporting new lines, double lines, and third/fourth line projects worth over Rs 80,000 crore.