Bhubaneswar: The Ministry of Railways has sanctioned the final location survey (FLS) for the proposed Gopalpur-Rayagada new rail line that would connect important regions of South Odisha. “A Final Location Survey has been sanctioned for the proposed 250 km Gopalpur-Rayagada New Railway Line, which aims to provide an alternate direct rail connectivity between the two locations,” the Centre announced in a post on social media. ADVERTISEMENTIt may be noted that location survey for the new rail line was initially sanctioned by the Ministry of Railways in February 2025 with an allocated budget of Rs 9.65 crores alongside the Naupada-Gunupur-Theruvali project. The Gopalpur-Rayagada new rail line was a long-standing demand of the people of Ganjam, Gajapati and Rayagada districts. The proposed railway line will be the gateway of the under-developed mineral rich areas of Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, officials said.