Historic Railway Budget Allocation of Rs 10,928 Crore for Odisha Announced
In a significant development for Odisha's infrastructure, the Central government has allocated a record-breaking Rs 10,928 crore in this year's Union Budget specifically for the state's railway sector development. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw made this announcement during a press conference in New Delhi, emphasizing that this represents the highest-ever budgetary allocation for Odisha in a single year.
Substantial Increase Over Previous Years
The current allocation marks a substantial increase of Rs 329 crore compared to last year's budget of Rs 10,599 crore. Minister Vaishnaw revealed that railway projects worth an impressive Rs 90,659 crore are currently underway across Odisha. He reiterated the Central government's commitment made in 2024 when the double-engine government was formed in the state, promising to undertake railway projects worth Rs 1 lakh crore over five years.
"We will keep our promise and execute projects worth Rs 10,000 crore in the coming days," Vaishnaw assured, highlighting the government's dedication to transforming Odisha's railway infrastructure.
Major Infrastructure Projects and Economic Impact
One of the most significant projects mentioned was the East-West Freight Corridor, which will connect Dankuni in West Bengal to Surat in Gujarat, passing through Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra. This corridor is expected to significantly boost industrial activity in Odisha by improving connectivity and logistics efficiency.
Vaishnaw also provided context about the scale of development, noting that approximately 2,200 kilometers of new railway tracks have been constructed in Odisha over the past eleven years. Remarkably, this exceeds the entire railway network of Malaysia, demonstrating the substantial progress made in the state's rail infrastructure.
Innovative Wildlife Protection Measures
Addressing the critical issue of elephant deaths on railway tracks, the Railway Minister announced innovative technological solutions. The ministry is implementing optic fibre cable networks in areas with significant elephant movement to detect their presence and prevent accidents.
"To solve this problem, a new technology is being implemented to detect elephant movement and save these pachyderms," Vaishnaw explained. AI-based thermal cameras will be deployed within the next six months to help identify wild animals near railway tracks. Additionally, the ministry has identified 200 locations across India where elephant underpasses will be constructed, providing safe passage for elephants and reducing track encounters.
Future High-Speed Rail Projects
On the topic of high-speed railway development, Vaishnaw confirmed that the first bullet train project connecting Mumbai to Ahmedabad is progressing. The Union Budget has announced seven high-speed rail corridors, with plans to include additional corridors, potentially including Odisha, in subsequent phases of development.
Historical Context and Political Reactions
Providing historical perspective, the Ministry of Railways revealed that the average annual outlay for Odisha's railway sector between 2009 and 2014 was only Rs 838 crore. The current allocation represents a thirteen-fold increase compared to that average during the UPA regime.
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Finance Minister, and Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for the record allocation. "I firmly believe that the 'East-West Freight Corridor' approved in the current budget will herald a new era in Odisha's industrial and commercial sectors," Majhi stated. He also praised the innovative use of AI-based thermal cameras and optical fibre technology for elephant protection, calling it an exemplary approach to wildlife conservation.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan also thanked the Central government, describing the allocation as "a historic allocation to Odisha for railway development." The announcements have generated significant optimism about Odisha's transportation infrastructure modernization and its potential economic benefits.
