The Ministry reported a significant upgradation of railway infrastructure in Odisha with increased budgetary support, and monetary values are expressed here in million (mn) and billion (bn).

Budget allocation rose from Rs 8,380 mn per year in 2009-14 to Rs 105.99 bn in 2025-26. The upgrade programme covers safety works and infrastructure falling fully or partly within the State.

New track commissioning accelerated markedly, with 2,150 km completed during 2014–25 compared with 267 km in 2009–14, representing more than three and a half times increase and average annual commissioning rising to 195 km. As on 1 April 2025, 49 sanctioned projects totalling 4,010 km have been approved at an estimated cost of Rs 674.96 bn, of which 1,429 km have been commissioned and Rs 280.43 bn has been expended up to March 2025. The sanctioned projects include 19 new lines and 30 doubling or multitracking schemes.

The Khurda Road–Bolangir new line of 301 km carries a latest project cost of Rs 50.89 bn and expenditure of Rs 43.11 bn up to March 2025, with an outlay of Rs 19.38 bn provided for 2025-26. The Khurda Road–Daspalla 106 km section and the Purunakatak–Bolangir 120 km section have been commissioned, while works on the 75 km Daspalla–Purunakatak section are under way. That section involves seven tunnels totalling 11.96 km, of which six have been completed covering 7.7 km, and the balance one tunnel remains under progress.

Construction of the third and fourth lines between Salegaon and Budhapank totalling 85 route km is under way, with Salegaon–Rajatgarh 23 km and Dhenkanal–Meramundali 34 km commissioned and major bridges and station works completed on remaining stretches. Project sanction and completion depend on factors such as traffic projections, connectivity, land acquisition, forest clearance, statutory approvals and geological conditions, which influence schedules and costs. The information was provided by the Union Minister for Railways in response to a question in the Rajya Sabha.