Koraput Lok Sabha MP Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka has formally requested Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to conduct a realignment survey for the proposed Gopalpur-Rayagada New Railway Line — this time routing it through the strategically located town of Gudari.
In his letter dated July 10, 2026, the MP highlighted that the current alignment plan, which proposes merging the new line near Ramanaguda with the existing Gunupur-Therubali section, bypasses Gudari entirely.
He has urged a revised route via Akhusingi–Naira–Gudari–Bankili/Durgi, arguing that this minor realignment could dramatically transform connectivity for thousands.
Gudari, an important Notified Area Council (NAC) and Block Headquarters in Rayagada district, serves as a lifeline for nearly 1.5 lakh people across surrounding areas, including parts of Chandrapur, Bissam Cuttack, Padmapur, and even Gajapati district’s Mohana block. Despite its strategic importance, the region remains starved of reliable all-weather road and rail links decades after independence.
“Without rail connectivity, education, healthcare, markets, employment, and public services continue to suffer,” Ulaka emphasised in the letter. He pointed out that while 9 out of 11 blocks in Rayagada district enjoy rail access, Gudari and Chandrapur remain glaring exceptions.
The MP noted that the proposed realignment could shorten the route by 15–17 kilometres, potentially lowering project costs while greatly improving traffic potential and land availability. He also enclosed a representation from Dakshina Odisha Unnayana Parishad (Letter No. 3/2026 dated 17.06.2026) underscoring the long-standing demand of local residents.
Ulaka has requested the Railway Board to direct East Coast Railway to immediately undertake a Preliminary Engineering-cum-Traffic Survey for the alternative alignment. He has copied the letter to the Railway Board Chairman and the General Manager of East Coast Railway for necessary action.
Local leaders and residents have welcomed the development, viewing it as a potential game-changer. If approved, Gudari would become the 10th block in Rayagada district to join Odisha’s expanding railway map, ushering in economic and social progress in a region long neglected.
This fresh push comes at a time when the government is fast-tracking several rail projects in Odisha. Whether the demand translates into on-ground action will depend on the Railway Ministry’s response to the MP’s urgent appeal.
The move has already sparked hope across South Odisha that the long wait for equitable infrastructure development may finally be ending.
