New Delhi: During his visit to Odisha tomorrow, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate, lay the foundation stone for, and dedicate several railway projects worth over ₹2,750 crore. The visit coincides with a dual milestone — 11 years of BJP at the Centre and one year of governance in Odisha.

Among the key projects, the Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone for the third and fourth rail lines between Sarla and Sason. This project aims to reduce congestion on the busy Jharsuguda–Sambalpur section and promote industrial development in the region.

Modi will also inaugurate the 73-km-long Sonepur–Purunakatak railway line, part of the larger 301-km Khurda Road–Balangir railway line. This marks a significant milestone as it connects Boudh district headquarters to the railway network for the first time. Additionally, this connectivity will improve access to the Bhairavi Temple in Purunakatak, easing travel for devotees and boosting regional socio-economic development.

The Prime Minister will also dedicate the following to the nation:

  • The fourth rail line between Jharsuguda and Jamga
  • A freight train maintenance facility at Sarla
  • A subway in the Bamra–Dharuadihi section
  • The Link C–Dumetra line
  • A Road Over Bridge at Jaleswar

To enhance passenger services, Modi will also launch new train services for Odisha:

18313/18314 Boudh–Bhubaneswar New–Boudh Weekly Express

From Boudh: Departs at 07:00 hrs every Monday, arriving at Bhubaneswar New at 18:15 hrs via Balangir, Sambalpur, Angul, and Naraj.

From Bhubaneswar New: Departs at 23:00 hrs on Mondays, reaching Boudh at 10:30 hrs on Tuesdays.

18311/18312 Sambalpur–Boudh–Sambalpur Weekly Express

From Sambalpur: Departs at 19:25 hrs on Sundays, arriving at Boudh at 23:55 hrs the same day.

From Boudh: Departs at 12:15 hrs on Tuesdays, reaching Sambalpur at 17:30 hrs.

Additionally, the following services will now originate from Purunakatak:

Bhubaneswar–Sonepur–Bhubaneswar Intercity Express

Two pairs of Balangir–Sonepur Shuttle Passenger Trains

These projects aim to enhance connectivity, support regional development, and provide a major boost to both passenger and freight rail infrastructure in Odisha.