Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed the Rajya Sabha that an outlay of Rs 19.38 billion (Rs 19.38 bn) has been provided for the 301 km Khurda Road–Balangir railway line project in the 2025–26 financial year. He stated that the latest cost of the project has reached Rs 50.89 billion (Rs 50.89 bn) and that expenditure of Rs 43.11 billion (Rs 43.11 bn) had been incurred up to March, 2025, signalling substantial investment to advance construction and commissioning activities across the corridor. He indicated that the project comprises three components, of which two have been commissioned and work on the remaining component has been taken up. The 106 km Khurda Road–Daspalla section and the 120 km Purunakatak–Balangir section have been commissioned, while the 75 km Daspalla–Purunakatak stretch is under construction. The minister explained that commissioning of the completed sections has facilitated initial train operations and that ongoing work aims to integrate the unfinished stretch with the operational segments to enable end?to?end services. He noted that the alignment includes seven tunnels with a combined length of 11.96 km, of which six tunnels totalling 7.7 km have been completed and work on one tunnel continues. All five bridges on the line have been completed and work on five station buildings is in progress, reflecting concurrent advancement of civil structures and passenger amenities. The minister described these works as critical for safe operations and for accommodating future traffic on the new route. He added that construction of an 85 km third and fourth line between Salegaon and Budhapank has also been taken up as part of wider capacity expansion in the state, with the 23 km Salegaon–Rajathgarh section already commissioned and land acquisition and forest land diversion under way for a 20 km Rajathgarh–Dhenkanal stretch. The 34 km Dhenkanal–Meramundali section has been commissioned and land acquisition and forest land diversion for an eight km Meramundali–Budhapank stretch remains under progress, underscoring continuing efforts to strengthen regional connectivity.