Puri: Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati on Saturday reviewed the progress of the ongoing Puri railway station redevelopment project and directed officials to ensure its completion before the 2027 Rath Yatra, so that lakhs of pilgrims and visitors can benefit from the upgraded facilities.
The governor visited the project site in Puri and inspected various components of the station redevelopment works, including the front facade, entry and exit gates, wall cladding, ceiling installations, public areas and the proposed entrance auditorium. Officials of the East Coast Railway presented a detailed briefing through project maps and a miniature model showcasing the planned transformation of the station into a modern transport hub.
The redeveloped station will feature food courts, Jana Ahara outlets, retiring rooms, dormitories, passenger lounges, automatic ticket vending machines, dedicated parking facilities for Divyangjan, baggage scanners and barrier-free access systems. The project is aimed at improving passenger convenience while catering to the increasing influx of pilgrims visiting Puri, famous for the Rath Yatra.
Later, chairing a review meeting with senior railway and district administration officials at Lok Bhavan in Puri, Kambhampati assessed the status of the station redevelopment project as well as the proposed Puri-Konark railway link project. He stressed that public convenience and efficient service delivery must remain at the centre of all infrastructure development initiatives.
Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of developing world-class railway infrastructure, the governor said such projects are crucial for improving connectivity, boosting tourism and accelerating economic growth.
To ensure timely execution, he advised officials to monitor progress on a weekly basis using PERT charts and conduct regular reviews. He also called for close coordination between railway authorities and state government departments to resolve bottlenecks and maintain project schedules.
The governor was also briefed on the progress of other railway station redevelopment projects underway across Odisha, including Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Sambalpur and Brahmapur.
