By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR: Odisha has profited significantly from Ashwini Vaishnaw becoming Railway Minister in July 2021. The state has seen record-high railway investments, new projects, track expansions, station upgrades, and better industrial connectivity — far more than in previous years. There is no evidence of Odisha “losing” out; instead, data shows a clear boost in infrastructure. The one major negative was the tragic Balasore train accident in 2023, but overall development gains have been substantial.
Key Benefits and Projects (2021–2026): Huge jump in funding: Railway allocation for Odisha rose to Rs 10,599–Rs 10,928 crore in recent Union Budgets (2025-26 and 2026-27). This is a 13-fold increase from the average Rs 838 crore per year during 2009–14. In the last few years alone, over Rs 25,000 crore was sanctioned for new projects in a single year.
Ongoing and planned works worth Rs 90,000+ crore: Projects worth over Rs 73,000–Rs 1 lakh crore are under implementation or planned in the next 5 years. This includes new lines, doubling, multitracking, and flyovers.
New lines and capacity addition: 19 new railway lines and 30 doubling/multitracking projects approved. Examples: Sambalpur–Jarapda and Jharsuguda–Sason (3rd & 4th lines). Cuttack–Nergundi 4th line + flyover (₹802.9 crore project). Acceleration of Khurda–Bolangir line.Better access to Paradeep Port and mineral-rich areas.
Station redevelopment: 59 stations under Amrit Bharat Station Scheme (Rs 2,439 crore total). Several already completed or upgraded (e.g., Cuttack second entry, Baripada, Bhubaneswar, etc.).
Freight and speed upgrades: Odisha is part of the East–West Dedicated Freight Corridor. New Vande Bharat and Amrit Bharat trains introduced. Track upgrades for 130 kmph speeds + Kavach safety system. Odisha added thousands of km of new/renewed tracks in the broader national push.
Economic gains: Better connectivity to ports, mines, steel plants, and villages. This supports industry, freight movement, jobs during construction, and long-term growth in mineral-rich and coastal regions.
Comparison note: Pre-2021 (especially 2009–14), allocations and new track commissioning were much lower. Post-2021 under Vaishnaw, the pace accelerated sharply with state government cooperation on land and approvals.
Clear Profit for Odisha: Odisha has gained massively in railway infrastructure, connectivity, and future economic potential since 2021. Funding and projects are at historic highs, directly benefiting ports, industries, passengers, and remote areas. The Balasore accident was a tragic setback, but the scale of development far outweighs it in long-term terms. As an Odisha native holding the Railways portfolio, Vaishnaw has repeatedly highlighted and pushed these projects.
The Main Downside: Balasore Accident (June 2023):A serious negative event was the Balasore (Bahanaga) triple train collision in Odisha, which killed around 296 people and injured over 1,200. It was caused by a signalling error (electronic interlocking issue). Opposition parties demanded Vaishnaw’s resignation, and there was criticism about safety lapses and staffing shortages in Indian Railways nationally. Vaishnaw stayed on-site for days overseeing relief and the probe identified the cause. This tragedy affected Odisha directly and remains a black mark on his tenure.
However, no major ongoing “losses” (like diverted funds or cancelled projects specific to Odisha) appear in media reports. Safety issues are a national concern, not unique to Odisha.
