Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw Inspects Redevelopment Work at Puri Railway Station

Puri, April 11, 2025: Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw conducted a late-night inspection of the ongoing redevelopment work at Puri Railway Station on Friday. During the visit, he reviewed the progress of construction activities and urged officials to expedite the remaining work to ensure timely completion.

The minister expressed satisfaction with the current pace of work and noted that land acquisition for the proposed Puri–Konark Rail Line is also progressing swiftly. Emphasizing the cultural and strategic importance of Puri, Vaishnaw reiterated that the redeveloped station will be a world-class facility blending heritage aesthetics with modern amenities.

The redevelopment project is being executed under the Amrit Station Scheme, which was launched by Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 18, 2023. With an estimated cost of ₹177.41 crores, the scheme is aligned with the Prime Minister’s vision of “Virasat Bhi, Vikas Bhi” — heritage as well as development.

Vaishnaw said, “The Puri station redevelopment embodies the essence of India’s rich heritage while incorporating modern infrastructure for enhanced passenger convenience.” He added that the project will serve as a model for future station upgrades across the country.

Key Highlights of the Redeveloped Puri Railway Station:

• Green Building Design (Gold Standard) capable of withstanding wind speeds up to 250 kmph
• Total Building and Concourse Area: 24,185 sq.m
• Circulating Area: 26,100 sq.m
• Platform Area: 21,600 sq.m across 8 platforms
• Passenger Amenities:
  • Automatic Ticket Vending Machines
  • Baggage Scanners
  • Tourist Information & Booking Centre
  • Food Court, Jana Aahar, and Retail Shops
  • Centralized CCTV Monitoring
  • 4 Escalators, 4 Passenger Lifts, and 1 Staff Lift
  • 23 Retiring Rooms, 150-bed Dormitories
  • 60-bed TTE Rest Room
  • Paid and Free Waiting Lounges
  • Baby Feeding Room and Child Help Desk
  • “May I Help You” kiosks

Accompanied by senior railway officials, including East Coast Railway General Manager Parmeshwar Funkwal and Khurda Road Divisional Railway Manager H.S. Bajwa, Vaishnaw toured the site and interacted with engineers and workers on-ground.

A significant portion of the work has already been completed, bringing the vision of a modern, inclusive, and passenger-centric Puri Railway Station closer to reality.