Union Minister for Railways, Ashwini Vaishnaw, announced plans for a four-line railway corridor stretching from Balasore to Berhampur in Odisha to alleviate congestion on the vital Howrah-Chennai main line. This strategic project is expected to facilitate faster movement of both passenger and freight trains, significantly boosting connectivity under the East Coast Railway (ECoR). During a recent visit to Bhubaneswar, Vaishnaw reviewed various infrastructure initiatives, including the redevelopment of the Bhubaneswar railway station at a cost of ₹398 crore. The station modernization is part of the Amrit Bharat Station scheme, which aims to enhance amenities across 1,324 stations nationwide. Notably, Odisha has received a record budget allocation of over ₹10,928 crore for railway development, nearly 13 times higher than previous averages. The minister highlighted a focus on improving railway connectivity in Western Odisha, particularly in tribal regions, and confirmed that 59 railway stations statewide are being modernized. Vaishnaw emphasized that ongoing railway projects worth over ₹90,000 crore are in progress, aiming for balanced and inclusive development across the state.