Bhubaneswar: The historic Paralakhemundi railway station, one of Odisha’s oldest railheads, has been included in the Railway Board’s Station Mahotsav programme, becoming the only station from the state to feature in the nationwide initiative celebrating heritage railway stations. The Railway Board has listed 109 stations for the event.TOI highlighted Paralakhemundi station’s rich past and architectural importance in its ‘Down Memory Lane’ column on June 24. The station in Gajapati district comes under the newly-created Rayagada division of East Coast Railway.Established in 1900, Paralakhemundi station will celebrate its Station Mahotsav later this month, marking over 125 years of its association with the region’s history, trade and connectivity. Railway officials said the programme is aimed at showcasing the role of historic stations in shaping local culture and transport networks.The Railway Board has advised zonal railways to organise events based on local history and public sentiment. Proposed activities include photo exhibitions, display of vintage artefacts, cultural programmes, youth events, local food festivals, promotion of regional arts and handicrafts, and screenings on the station’s heritage.Paralakhemundi station is closely linked to the erstwhile Paralakhemundi estate and the early expansion of railways in southern Odisha. Its origins date back to 1898, when Maharaja Gourachandra Gajapati secured approval to build a line connecting Paralakhemundi with Naupada Junction on the Chennai-Howrah route. Built under the Paralakimedi Light Railway at a cost of about Rs 7 lakh, the line became operational in 1900 and is regarded as Odisha’s first privately-owned railway line.Over the decades, the station has remained an important transport hub, connecting southern Odisha with neighbouring Andhra Pradesh. Its inclusion in the Station Mahotsav calendar places it alongside prominent heritage stations such as Howrah, Sealdah, Old Delhi, Jaipur, Darjeeling and Mysore.As part of ongoing redevelopment, a new station building has been built with modern facilities and design elements inspired by local culture and royal heritage. The old British-era station building has also been preserved and renovated following appeals from residents, historians and heritage groups.The historic structure continues to house key railway functions, including the booking office, station master’s office and signalling systems, allowing the station to retain its legacy while adapting to modern needs, an ECoR spokesperson said.
