Dikhyaa Mohanty 
On Saturday, Union Minister of State for Railways V Somanna announced that more over ₹80,000 crore worth of railway infrastructure projects are presently being carried out in Odisha, indicating a significant shift in the connectivity environment of the state. He pointed out that Odisha received ₹10,599 crore in the 2025–2026 Union Budget, a 12.5-fold increase over the ₹838 crore allotted in the 2009–2014 timeframe.
While visiting the state, the minister thoroughly examined the ongoing renovations at the Bhubaneswar train station. Parmeshwar Funkwal, general manager of East Coast Railway, was with him. According to Somanna, the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme is being used to refurbish the Bhubaneswar station, and the construction is moving forward at a respectable rate.
He said that at a cost of ₹2,379 crore, 59 stations around the state are presently undergoing renovation. Modern access roads, larger circulating spaces, roomy waiting halls, nicer restrooms, lifts and escalators, and sophisticated passenger information systems are just a few of the increased passenger facilities that will be available at the refurbished stations, including Bhubaneswar. Additionally, provisions are being developed for executive lounges, kiosks that promote regional goods, and enhanced facilities for those with impairments. Within the renovated stations, specific areas will also be made available for commercial development.
Somanna noted that eight new railway line projects, as well as multitracking and flyover projects in Odisha, had received approval totaling more than ₹25,000 crore in the last year alone. He said that the amount of money invested and the pace at which it is being implemented demonstrate the federal government’s dedication to bolstering Odisha’s railway system and offering the state’s citizens top-notch infrastructure.
