Bhubaneswar, July 20 (UNI) Minister of State for Railways V. Somanna today inspected the ongoing redevelopment works at Puri Railway Station, being upgraded under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme.
He emphasised the Government of India’s commitment to modernising railway infrastructure and noted that Odisha has received Rs 10,599 crore in the 2025 railway budget—a 12.5-fold increase from 2009–14.
Currently, 59 stations in the state are being redeveloped at a cost of Rs 2,379 crore and railway projects worth over Rs 80,000 crore are underway.
Somanna highlighted that over the past decade, railway infrastructure in the region has seen unprecedented growth, with significant advancements in new line construction, track doubling, and enhancement of passenger amenities, far surpassing the progress of previous years.
He also noted the introduction of modern trains such as the Vande Bharat Express, which now connects major parts of Odisha, further boosting regional connectivity and development.
The Minister further highlighted that the redeveloped Puri station will offer world-class amenities, including improved access, modern waiting halls, lifts/escalators, executive lounges, sustainable features, and kiosks under ‘One Station One Product’.
Somanna was accompanied by B S Rajkumar, Additional General Manager, East Coast Railway and senior officials, including Divisional Railway Manager of Khurda Road Division, H S Bajwa and Chief Administrative Officer/Construction A G Srinivas, during the visit.
The redevelopment aims to enhance the travel experience for pilgrims, tourists and local passengers, aligning with PM Modi’s vision of transforming Indian Railways.
