Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has returned the DPR of the Gopalpur-Rairakhol newline project for reconsideration of including Phulbani town in Kandhamal district. The ORIDL has prepared the FLS and DPR for this newline project. Vaishnaw wants Phulbani to be included in the project to provide railway connectivity to Kandhamal district. The locals were uncertain if the newline would touch Phulbani, but the railway minister's statement cleared their doubts. Last year, the DRAC had protested against dropping Phulbani station from the project.
