Puri-Konark rail line project picks up pace to boost Odisha tourism

The Puri-Konark rail line project is moving faster as the Railways pushes land acquisition and approvals for the 32-km corridor linking two of Odisha's biggest tourist and pilgrimage centres.

In Short

• Railways speeds up work on Puri-Konark rail line
• Rs 138.38 crore allocated for 2026-27
• Project links Puri and Konark tourism hubs

The Puri-Konark rail line project is gaining momentum as Indian Railways moves ahead with work on the long-pending coastal Odisha connectivity plan. The 32-km railway line will connect Puri’s Jagannath Temple with the Konark Sun Temple, two of Odisha’s most visited destinations.

The project is expected to make travel easier for tourists and pilgrims who currently depend mainly on road transport between the two towns.

It is also part of the larger coastal railway network planned between Bhubaneswar, Puri and Konark. The Railway Board approved the project in February 2024, and it was later declared a Special Railway Project.

LAND ACQUISITION PICKS UP

The East Coast Railway has already started the land acquisition process for the Puri-Konark railway line. Around 521.48 acres of land will be acquired for the project.

Out of this, around 438.81 acres is private land spread across 36 villages, while 82.67 acres is government land located in 33 villages. Officials have stated that no forest land will be affected during construction.

For the financial year 2026-27, the project has received an allocation of Rs 138.38 crore to support land acquisition and construction work.

The acquisition process is being carried out under the Railway (Amendment) Act, 2008. Notifications have already been issued across several villages in Puri and Gop tehsils.

In Puri tehsil, the notifications cover nine villages and 108.43 acres of land. In Gop tehsil, 24 villages covering 242.14 acres have been included in the process.

BETTER CONNECTIVITY FOR TOURISM

The Puri-Konark rail line project is expected to improve tourism and business activity along Odisha’s coastal belt. The railway corridor will provide a direct travel option between the Jagannath Temple in Puri and the UNESCO-listed Konark Sun Temple.

The new railway line is also expected to support local economies in smaller villages located between Puri and Konark by improving access and movement.

Officials have designed the final railway alignment in a way that avoids forest areas and eco-sensitive zones near the Balukhand sanctuary, an issue that had delayed earlier proposals for the route.

- Ends