President Droupadi Murmu to Lay Foundation Stone for 3 Railway Projects on December 7.

President Droupadi Murmu will lay the foundation stones for three significant railway projects in north Odisha on December 7, as part of her five-day visit to the state. The projects include railway lines on the routes of Badampahar-Kendujhargarh, Bangiriposi-Gorumahisani, and Buramara-Chakulia. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw made the announcement on Monday, revealing that he invited President Murmu to lay the foundation stones after briefing her on the progress of ongoing railway projects and infrastructure developments in Odisha.

The three railway projects were approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on August 9. Once completed, the 82-km-long Badampahar-Kendujhargarh rail line will connect Keonjhar with Mayurbhanj, at an estimated cost of ₹2,107 crore, and will help establish a north and north-east rail corridor in the state.

The Bangiriposi-Gorumahisani project, which will connect northern Odisha with Jharkhand, spans 86 km and will cost ₹2,549 crore. The Buramara-Chakulia rail line, at 60 km, will link Odisha's north-eastern region to the Howrah-Mumbai main line, with an estimated cost of ₹1,639 crore.

President Murmu is scheduled to lay the foundation stones on the final day of her visit, after attending a series of events in Odisha. She will arrive in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday afternoon and participate in the Navy Day celebrations in Puri on Wednesday, followed by a visit to the Jagannath Temple. On Thursday, she will be the chief guest at the 40th convocation ceremony of OUAT Bhubaneswar, and later inaugurate the new judicial court complex in the city.

On December 6 and 7, Murmu will be in Mayurbhanj, her native district, where she will stay in Rairangpur and attend several programs. She plans to visit Rairangpur Women's College for interactions with students and faculty, and also offer prayers at Puneswar Mahadev Temple. On the last day of her visit, she will meet locals before laying the foundation stones for the railway projects. Additionally, Murmu will lay the foundation for a tribal research center and a sub-divisional hospital via video conferencing before returning to New Delhi.

ET