Bhubaneswar: The East Coast Railway commemorated the 125th anniversary of the Paralakhemundi Light Railway (PLR), a historic line built by Maharaja Goura Chandra Gajapati Narayan Deb in Odisha’s Gajapati district.
The celebrations featured banners, brochures, station illuminations, and community engagement initiatives, including audio jingles and events for schoolchildren. Competitions such as essay writing and elocution on the theme Virasat Se Vikas Tak (From Heritage to Development) were also held.
A special meeting, jointly organized with the Naupada-Paralakhemundi-Gunupur Rail Users Group, saw the donation of a photograph of Maharaja Goura Chandra Gajapati Narayan Deb and his son, Maharaja Krushna Chandra Gajapati Narayan Deb, who extended the PLR to Gunupur in 1929 and 1931. Senior railway officials, including Senior Divisional Commercial Manager K. Pavan Kumar, attended. The Rail Users group proposed establishing an art gallery at Paralakhemundi Railway Station and restoring its old building.
Historical Significance
Founded in 1899, the PLR was Odisha’s first narrow-gauge railway, connecting Paralakhemundi with Naupada and later Gunupur. Initially a private venture of the Maharaja, it was inaugurated in 1900 and later managed by Bengal Nagpur Railway in 1934. The line was converted to broad gauge in phases, reopening fully by 2011.
Development under Amrit Bharat Station Scheme
Paralakhemundi Railway Station is among 57 stations selected for modernization under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, with Rs. 16.4 crore allocated for upgrades. The project aims to enhance passenger amenities while preserving the station’s historical essence.
