Sambalpur, Dec 23: Union Education Minister and Sambalpur MP Dharmendra Pradhan, along with MPs from Balangir, Bargarh, and neighbouring constituencies, attended a high-level review meeting of the East Coast Railway’s Sambalpur Division here on Tuesday.

Stressing the urgency of railway infrastructure upgrades in the region, Minister Pradhan urged officials to fast-track long-pending projects that are critical for regional connectivity, passenger convenience, and industrial growth.

ସମ୍ବଲପୁର ରେଳ ଡିଭିଜନର ‘ଡିଭିଜନାଲ ବୈଠକ’ରେ କଳାହାଣ୍ଡି, ବଲାଙ୍ଗୀର, ବରଗଡ଼ ଏବଂ ଛତିଶଗଡ଼ର ଲୋକସଭା ସାଂସଦମାନଙ୍କ ସହ ଯୋଗଦେଲି । ଏହି ଉଚ୍ଚସ୍ତରୀୟ ବୈଠକରେ ବହୁ ଆକାଂକ୍ଷୀତ ଖୋର୍ଦ୍ଧା ରୋଡ଼-ବଲାଙ୍ଗୀର, ତାଳଚେର-ବିମଳାଗଡ଼, ଜରପଡ଼ା-ସମ୍ବଲପୁର ଓ ଶାସନ-ଝାରସୁଗୁଡ଼ା ତୃତୀୟ ଓ ଚତୁର୍ଥ ଲାଇନ ଆଦି ରେଳ ପ୍ରକଳ୍ପର ଅଗ୍ରଗତି କାର୍ଯ୍ୟ ନେଇ… pic.twitter.com/2p5RlPNYrW

— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) December 23, 2025

Key projects under review included the Khurda–Balangir rail line, the Talcher–Bimlagarh rail project, and the Jharsuguda–Jeypore line doubling. Pradhan announced that the Khurda–Balangir line is expected to be completed by 2026, calling it a major achievement under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership and Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw’s coordination.

The government has sanctioned funds for the new Bargarh–Nuapada rail line, with survey work already underway. Alignment changes in the Barkot–Jharsuguda line to extend up to Lapanga, and plans for inner and outer lines at Chhendipada to facilitate coal transport, were also discussed. These measures, Pradhan noted, will boost freight efficiency and industrial activity in the region.

Passenger services were a major focus, with proposals for four Vande Bharat trains connecting western Odisha to Visakhapatnam, Raipur, Ranchi, and coastal Odisha. Redevelopment of stations under the Amrit Bharat scheme—including Sambalpur, Balangir, Kesinga, and Bargarh—was also prioritised. Work on Sambalpur station is set to begin next month, alongside plans for lifts, foot overbridges, and underpasses across 100 stations from Koraput to Sundargarh.

Pradhan further highlighted the upcoming rail coach servicing centre at Maneswar (Sambalpur), which will strengthen maintenance capacity. He called for a larger western Odisha coordination meeting involving Bilaspur Zone and Chakradharpur Division to streamline passenger services and infrastructure upgrades.

The meeting was attended by MPs Pradeep Purohit (Bargarh), Sangeeta Kumari Singhdeo (Balangir), and representatives from Kalahandi and Chhattisgarh’s Mahasamund constituency, along with senior railway officials.