Odisha Railway Update: New corridor for tribal areas and 4-line project announced
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced major infrastructure upgrades for Odisha on April 19 and 20, 2026. The government allocated a record budget of ₹10,928 crore for the 2026-27 period to boost rail connectivity. These projects aim to connect remote tribal regions and reduce traffic on busy main lines.
What are the key railway projects in Odisha
- Tribal Connectivity: Special focus is on the Junagarh – Nabarangpur – Jeypore – Malkangiri – Bhadrachalam corridor to help aspirational regions.
- Coastal Corridor: A new four-line railway corridor is planned from Balasore to Berhampur to ease congestion on the Howrah-Chennai line.
- District Reach: The Ministry is working to ensure all 30 districts of Odisha have rail connectivity.
- Station Upgrades: 59 stations, including Bhubaneswar, are being redeveloped under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme.
Budget and Investment Details
| Detail | Amount/Status |
|---|---|
| Budget for 2026-27 | ₹10,928 Crore |
| Total Projects Under Execution | Over ₹90,000 Crore |
| Budget Comparison | 13 times higher than 2009-14 average |
| Stations for Redevelopment | 59 Stations |
Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated that these developments will improve the movement of both passengers and freight. The goal is to ensure balanced economic growth by bringing trains to the most remote parts of the state.