Central Government Notifies Multiple Station Development Works as Special Railway Projects in Odisha and Andhra Pradesh

The Ministry of Railways, through the East Coast Railway (Construction) department, issued a formal notification designating several infrastructure developments as special railway projects. This notification, identified as S.O. 5465(E) and dated November 28, 2025, was promulgated under the statutory authority of the Railways Act, 1989. The Central Government exercised its specific powers to categorize six distinct station development and crossing station projects within the Waltair Division as special railway projects, covering regions in both Odisha and Andhra Pradesh. The notification stipulated that these designations took effect immediately upon their publication in the Official Gazette.

The projects identified in the notification primarily focused on the development of new crossing stations—facilities designed to allow trains to pass or overtake one another on single-line sections—along critical rail corridors. In the state of Odisha, the government designated the development of new crossing stations at Bansadhara and Sitapuram, both situated between the Gunupur and Parlakhemundi sections. These projects included the construction of two platforms and Foot Over Bridges (FOBs), which are pedestrian bridges providing safe passage for passengers across railway tracks. Additionally, the Kashinagar Passenger Halt (PH) between Parlakhemundi and Gunupur was slated for development into a crossing station equipped with two platforms.

The legislation provided: “In exercise of the powers, conferred by Clause 37(A) of Section-2 of the Railways Act, 1989 the Central Government hereby notifies the following project as special railway project as mention column (2) of the Table below in the State mentioned in column (3) of the Table, with effect from the date of publication of this notification in the official Gazette.”

In Andhra Pradesh, the notification covered three significant developments within the Naupada-Parlakhemundi section of the Waltair Division. These included the establishment of new crossing stations at Pathapatnam and Temburu (TMB), each featuring two platforms to facilitate better traffic management. Furthermore, the development of a new crossing station at Tekkeli was authorized, encompassing the construction of two platforms and a Foot Over Bridge. By invoking Section 2, Clause 37(A) of the Railways Act, 1989, the government effectively brought these projects under a specific legal framework intended for infrastructure of public importance.

The policy rationale behind such notifications involves addressing statutory requirements for infrastructure delivery and streamlining the administrative processes associated with railway expansion. Under the Railways Act, the classification of a venture as a "special railway project" (a project notified by the Central Government for providing public transport or for reasons of national interest) often facilitates specialized land acquisition procedures and dedicated statutory timelines. This legislative move aimed to enhance the operational capacity of the East Coast Railway by increasing the number of crossing points, thereby reducing transit delays and improving the overall efficiency of the rail network in the affected districts of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh. The notification serves to substitute standard project classifications with this specialized status to ensure the timely completion of the Waltair Division’s expansion goals.

Keywords: Railways Act 1989, Special Railway Project, East Coast Railway, Waltair Division, Odisha Railway, Andhra Pradesh Railway, Station Development, Ministry of Railways

Geo Tags: India, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh
District: Not Applicable