Railways speeds up Puri-Konark line project to improve connectivity along coastal Odisha

“The proposed new rail line between Puri and Konark — a 32km greenfield corridor that promises to ease access for millions of pilgrims and tourists visiting the iconic Jagannath Temple and the UNESCO-listed Sun Temple each year,” Raut said.

Land acquisition for Puri–Konark rail project progresses: Railways

The railway official said that ECoR has moved ahead with the land acquisition process as the 521-acre Puri-Konark rail line project progresses through various statutory approvals. “For the financial year 2026-27, a significant outlay of Rs 138.38 crore has been allocated to maintain construction and land acquisition momentum,” Deepak Rout told Indianexpress.com.

“The proposed alignment traverses the tehsils (sub-districts) of Puri and Gop, requiring acquisition of approximately 521.48 acres of land — of which 438.81 acres is private land spread across 36 villages, and 82.67 acres is government land across 33 villages. No forest land is affected, a reassurance that has somewhat eased the concerns of environmental groups.

Acquisition is progressing under the Railway (Amendment) Act, 2008, with the Competent Authority for Land Acquisition (CALA) issuing a series of Section 20A notifications — the statutory step that formally initiates land acquisition proceedings. In Puri tahasil, notifications have been issued for nine villages covering 108.43 acres, while in Gop tahasil, notifications cover twenty-four villages with a total area of 242.14 acres,” he said.

Significance of Odisha’s Puri-Konark railway line project

According to the Railway official, the 32-km-long Puri-Konark line project is expected to catalyse tourism infrastructure development across intervening coastal villages, many of which have seen limited economic activity. He noted that the alignment avoids all forest land as a critical environmental consideration given the proximity of the ecologically sensitive region.