'Cuttack Railway Station Will Become A City Centre': Vaishnaw On 'Big Vision' For Revamp In Odisha

Railway minister Ashiwini Vaishnaw on Sunday visited the Cuttack railway station to inspect the redevelopment work.

Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw articulated an ambitious vision for the revitalisation of Cuttack Railway Station on Sunday (August 13), emphasising its critical role in improving passenger experiences. Vaishnaw envisioned the station evolving into a bustling "city centre for Cuttack", drawing parallels to Prime Minister Modi's call for stations to serve as connecting hubs between states. 

"In pursuit of a big vision, the railway station assumes an important role in orchestrating a comprehensive transformation of the passenger experience. Echoing the sentiments expressed by Prime Minister Modi about stations serving as bridges between states, this station will evolve into a city centre for Cuttack," Vaishnaw was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

This transformative announcement follows an earlier commitment made by Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan in March, wherein he revealed that Cuttack Railway Station is set to undergo redevelopment, with a sanctioned budget of Rs 303 crore for the ambitious project. Notably, both Union Ministers, Pradhan and Ashwini Vaishnaw, jointly inaugurated the maiden run of the Bhadrak-Nayagarh Town- MEMU train from Cuttack Railway Station.

Minister Vaishnaw emphasised the importance of this direct train link, which connected Bhadrak and Nayagarh Districts while facilitating efficient passenger movement across five districts of the state via key towns such as Khurda Road, Bhubaneswar, and Cuttack.

Minister Vaishnaw also emphasised that the establishment of this direct train service addresses a long-standing demand from residents of both the Bhadrak and Nayagarh districts. This proposal was first announced during the foundation stone laying ceremony for the Redevelopment of Bhubaneswar Railway Station, demonstrating the government's commitment to improving regional railway connectivity.

Minister Vaishnaw stated at the event, "Cuttack Railway Station will undergo redevelopment as a world-class facility, with a sanctioned budget of Rupees 303 crores," according to an ANI report. He also highlighted Indian Railways' progress in Odisha, noting that 400 kilometres of rail lines have been built this year alone, compared to a mere 50 kilometres annually from 2009 to 2014, it said.