Indian Railways has accelerated work on the Puri–Konark rail line project to enhance connectivity and infrastructure along coastal Odisha, as per Indian Express report.

The Ministry of Railways has expedited the new rail line, which is expected to become a crucial link in Odisha’s proposed coastal rail triangle connecting Bhubaneswar, Puri, and Konark. 

The project was sanctioned by the Railway Board on February 19, 2024, and later declared a Special Railway Project on March 7, 2024. It is being executed under the administrative jurisdiction of the East Coast Railway (ECoR) zone.

Deepak Rout, chief public relations officer of ECoR, said the proposed 32-km Puri-Konark rail link is set to transform pilgrimage connectivity in the state, connecting Jagannath Dham in Puri with the Konark Sun Temple. He noted that although the two towns are just 35 km apart along the Bay of Bengal coast, they currently lack direct rail connectivity.

Rout added that the new greenfield corridor would ease access for millions of pilgrims and tourists visiting the iconic Jagannath Temple and the UNESCO-listed Sun Temple each year.

He also said that land acquisition for the 521-acre project is progressing alongside other statutory approvals, with a significant allocation of Rs 138.38 crore for the financial year 2026-27 to maintain construction and acquisition momentum.

The proposed alignment passes through the tehsils of Puri and Gop, requiring the acquisition of approximately 521.48 acres, of which 438.81 acres is private land across 36 villages, and 82.67 acres is government land across 33 villages. Rout emphasized that no forest land is affected, addressing environmental concerns.

Acquisition is being carried out under the Railway (Amendment) Act, 2008, with the Competent Authority for Land Acquisition issuing Section 20A notifications to formally initiate proceedings. In Puri tehsil, notifications cover nine villages totalling 108.43 acres, while in Gop tehsil, 24 villages covering 242.14 acres have been notified.

Rout highlighted that the 32-km line is expected to stimulate tourism infrastructure and economic development in the intervening coastal villages, many of which have seen limited activity, and that the alignment strategically avoids forest land given the ecological sensitivity of the region.