Bhubaneswar, April 18: The East Coast Railway (ECoR), in close coordination with the Odisha Government, is making accelerated progress on four major new railway line projects across southern and western Odisha. With a combined investment of over Rs 6,879 crore and a total route length of 382 km, these projects aim to significantly improve connectivity in some of the State’s most remote, tribal dominated regions, said an official release.
According to an ECoR release, memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) were signed on April 16, 2026 between East Coast Railway and the Government of Odisha to fast track these projects. These MoUs provide a structured coordination mechanism for expediting land acquisition, ensuring timely clearances, and resolving field level issues through joint monitoring. The agreement is already helping to bring greater speed, accountability, and synergy in project execution.
Work is progressing in mission mode across land acquisition, forest clearances, tendering, and construction. A key accelerator has been the conferment of Special Railway Project status, which is significantly expediting land acquisition and statutory processes through prioritized administrative support.
JEYPORE–MALKANGIRI NEW LINE PROJECT (126 KM)
Sanctioned at ₹2,343.64 crore, with 75% funding by Railways and 25% by the Government of Odisha, the project has achieved major milestones in land acquisition and forest clearances, with tenders for construction works already invited.
For the tribal population of Malkangiri, this line will be transformative, bringing reliable access to markets, education, and healthcare, and reducing dependence on long and difficult road journeys.
JEYPORE–NABARANGPUR NEW LINE PROJECT (44.14 KM)
This ₹747.91 crore project is being implemented with Government of Odisha bearing land cost and 50% construction cost, while Railways funds the remaining 50%. Construction has already commenced in key sections, including major bridge works.
It will provide first ever rail connectivity to Nabarangpur, opening up economic opportunities and improving mobility for its largely tribal population.
BARGARH–NUAPADA NEW LINE PROJECT (138.32 KM)
Sanctioned at ₹2,621.92 crore, this project is progressing rapidly with land acquisition and tendering advancing in parallel. In a significant development, statutory notifications under the land acquisition process have been issued across the alignment.
For private land acquisition in Bargarh district, 20A Gazette Notifications initiating the land acquisition process for all 79 villages were published. Subsequently, 20E Gazette Notifications have been issued, and the land acquisition process has reached the conclusive stage for 6 villages. Likewise, in Nuapada district, the 20A Gazette Notification for initiating the land acquisition process for all 6 villages was published. These milestones mark substantial progress in securing land, enabling faster transition to construction activities.
The Special Railway Project status is further accelerating land acquisition. For tribal communities in Nuapada, this line will open access to employment, markets, and essential services, fostering inclusive growth in the region.
GUNUPUR–THERUVALI NEW LINE PROJECT (73.62 KM)
With a sanctioned cost of ₹1,165.89 crore, the project is witnessing simultaneous progress in land acquisition and tendering. In a significant step forward, 20E Gazette Notifications have been published, marking the conclusive stage of the land acquisition process for all 51 villages along the alignment, thereby substantially enhancing land availability for construction.
This line will enhance connectivity in Rayagada district, enabling tribal communities to access better healthcare, education, and livelihood opportunities, while also supporting local employment.
A TRANSFORMATIVE IMPACT FOR ODISHA
These four projects together will connect previously unserved districts, benefiting over 30 lakh people, most of them from tribal and marginalized communities. Improved rail connectivity will enable farmers to reach wider markets, students to access educational institutions, and patients to travel for better healthcare. It will also attract investment, create employment, and strengthen administrative reach in remote regions.
The combination of the MoU and the Special Railway Project framework is creating a powerful execution model bringing speed, coordination, and accountability to infrastructure delivery. Together, these initiatives are not only accelerating project completion but also laying the foundation for long-term socio-economic transformation in Odisha’s tribal heartland.
