Bhubaneswar, August 19: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Wednesday welcomed the Union government's approval of four railway multi-tracking projects across four states, saying the initiatives would provide a “fresh impetus to tourism, pilgrimage, and local livelihoods” in the region.

The Chief Minister expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA)'s approval of the projects, three of which will directly benefit Odisha.

In a letter to Vaishnaw, Majhi said the projects, with a total estimated outlay of Rs 9,450 crore, represent a transformative step in strengthening the state's rail infrastructure.

“These projects will decongest critical freight and passenger corridors, and will meaningfully improve connectivity for our coastal and industrial districts,” Majhi said.

He highlighted the importance of the enhanced rail capacity for transporting coal, iron ore, cement, steel and food grains, which are vital to Odisha's economy. At the same time, he said improved connectivity would benefit major tourism and pilgrimage destinations, including Bhitarkanika National Park, Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary, Chandipur Beach, Gada Kujanga Jagannath Temple, Dhabaleswar Temple, Sarala Temple and the Buddhist heritage site of Lalitgiri.

“This will give a fresh impetus to tourism, pilgrimage, and local livelihoods across the region,” the Chief Minister said.

Majhi also said the projects would improve connectivity to thousands of villages and benefit lakhs of citizens, describing the initiative as a reflection of the Union government's continued commitment to Odisha's development under the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan.

According to a government release, the CCEA, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved four Ministry of Railways projects with a combined estimated cost of around Rs 9,450 crore.

The approved projects are:

• Kharagpur–Bhadrak (Ranital) fourth line:173 km across West Bengal and Odisha.
• Bhadrak–Haridaspur fourth line:75 km in Odisha.
• Gummidipundi–Gudur third and fourth lines:90 km across Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
• Cuttack–Paradeep (Badabandha) third and fourth lines:72 km in Odisha.

The projects are expected to increase rail capacity, ease congestion on key routes and strengthen passenger and freight connectivity across the eastern and southern regions.