Ganjam , Aug 4 [UDN}: A direct railway line will soon connect Gopalpur in Ganjam district with Rayagada. The final location survey for the proposed 250-kilometre railway line has already received approval, and field survey work has begun for preparing the Detailed Project Report (DPR).
Earlier, passengers travelling from Gopalpur to Rayagada had to take the railway route through Vizianagaram Junction. However, an alternative direct railway route will now be developed, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed the Lok Sabha.
Replying to a question in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, the Railway Minister said that although railway connectivity between Gopalpur and Rayagada already exists through Vizianagaram Junction, there had been a long-standing demand for a direct alternative route. Therefore, approval has been granted for the Gopalpur–Rayagada new railway line.
The ongoing field survey will examine various aspects, including alternative alignments, connectivity to economic centres, and consultations with stakeholders such as the Odisha government, Forest Department, district revenue authorities, industries, and mining sectors. Based on technical and economic feasibility, the most suitable route alignment will be finalised.
The Railway Minister stated that after completion of the DPR, discussions will be held with the Odisha government and other stakeholders for project approval. Necessary approvals from authorities such as NITI Aayog and the Ministry of Finance will also be sought.
Since railway project approval is a continuous process, a specific timeline for completion of the project cannot be fixed at this stage, he added.
The Minister also highlighted Odisha’s growing railway infrastructure. He said that the railway budget allocation for Odisha has increased nearly 13 times compared to the 2009–2014 period, reaching ₹10,236 crore in 2026–27.
Over the last decade, the average pace of commissioning new railway tracks in Odisha has increased by around three and a half times. At present, 186 km of new railway tracks are becoming operational annually, compared to only 53 km per year during 2009–2014.
As of April 1 this year, a total of 55 railway projects worth ₹81,739 crore have been approved in Odisha. These include 19 new railway line projects and 36 projects related to doubling and expansion of existing railway tracks.
The Railway Minister also pointed out that factors such as land acquisition, forest clearances, shifting of utilities, statutory approvals, geographical conditions, and law-and-order issues in project areas influence the completion time and cost of railway projects.
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