PM Modi Launches 2000 Railway Projects Worth Rs 41000 Cr, 21 Odisha Stations to be Revamped

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday launched 2000 railway infrastructure projects worth over Rs 41,000 through video conferencing in the presence of Union Rail Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.

The PM laid the foundation stone for the redevelopment of 553 stations, including 21 in Odisha, under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. Foundation stones for around 1,500 road overbridges (ROB) and underbridges (RUB) in different states were also laid.

“Today’s programme is a symbol of the new work culture of new India. Whatever India does today, it does with unprecedented speed, today’s India has stopped dreaming of small things, we dream big and work day and night to fulfil them, this is the resolve of this developed India…The projects are for over 300 districts in 27 states worth over Rs 40,000 crore… Lakhs of youths will get scope for employment under these projects. The dream of youths is my Sankalp for Vikshit Bharat guarantee,” the PM said.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik attended the event virtually from Bhubaneswar.

The Amrit Bharat stations, spread across 27 states and Union Territories, will be redeveloped at a cost of over Rs 19,000 crores. The 21 stations in Odisha to be developed under it are are Bimlagarh, Jaroli, Rairangpur, Panposh, Baleswar, Betnoti, Sambalpur City, Jharsuguda Road, Titlagarh, Kesinga, Rayagada, Paralakhemundi, Koraput, Jeypore, Talcher, Raghunathpur, Paradeep, Kendujhargarh, Bhadrak, Belpahar, and Brajarajnagar. These would be redeveloped with an investment of Rs 900 crore.

These 21 stations are among the 57 railway stations in the state identified by the Indian Railways for a major makeover at a cost of around Rs 3,000 crore. Work on 25 stations, including Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Puri, are already in progress under the first phase of the scheme.