Minister of State for Railways and Jal Shakti, V. Somanna, inspected the ongoing redevelopment works at Puri Railway Station today. This station is being upgraded under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme.
MoS Somanna emphasised the Government of India’s commitment to modernising railway infrastructure, noting that Odisha has received ₹10,599 crore in the 2025 railway budget, representing a 12.5-fold increase from the budget allocated during 2009–2014. Currently, 59 stations in the state are being redeveloped at a total cost of ₹2,379 crore, while railway projects worth over ₹80,000 crore are in progress.
Somanna pointed out that over the past decade, railway infrastructure in the region has experienced unprecedented growth, with significant advancements in new line construction, track doubling, and enhancements in passenger amenities, far surpassing the progress made in previous years. He also mentioned the introduction of modern trains such as the Vande Bharat Express, which now connects major parts of Odisha, thereby boosting regional connectivity and development.
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The Minister highlighted that the redeveloped Puri station will feature world-class amenities, including improved access, modern waiting halls, lifts and escalators, executive lounges, sustainable features, and kiosks under the ‘One Station One Product’ initiative.
During his visit, Somanna was accompanied by B. S. Rajkumar, Additional General Manager of East Coast Railway, along with senior officials, including H. S. Bajwa, Divisional Railway Manager of the Khurda Road Division, and A. G. Srinivas, Chief Administrative Officer for Construction.
The redevelopment aims to enhance the travel experience for pilgrims, tourists, and local passengers, aligning with Prime Minister Modi’s vision of transforming Indian Railways.
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