Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that the Odisha government no longer needs to ask the central government for funds for railway development. This year, the central government has allocated the highest-ever amount of funds for the state. In the past, Odisha used to visit New Delhi to request funds, and they would receive an average of Rs 800 crore per year. However, the Modi government has now allocated Rs 10,000 crore to the state for the railway sector in the latest budget.
The pace of railway work in Odisha has also increased. Previously, about 50 km of new railway lines were being constructed, but last year it was increased to 450 km. The goal for this financial year is to lay 500 km of railway line.
Regarding the new Khurda-Bolangir railway line, Vaishnaw mentioned that work from Khurda to Daspalla and from Bolangir to Sonepur has been completed. The remaining portion of the project is progressing at a fast pace. Vaishnaw made these statements at an event in Bhubaneswar during the launch of the PM Vishwakarma Yojana.
