Bhubaneswar: Maoist-dominated district Malkangiri is all set to get railway connectivity with Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Tuesday approving a 130-km-long Jeypore-Malkangiri new line project.

Railway officials said the project would be completed by 2012-22.

The proposed new line will connect Malkangiri, Boipariguda, Tanginiguda, Mathili, Pondripani Road and other major towns to Jeypore station on the existing Kottavalasa-Kirandul line. East Coast Railway officials said connectivity to important towns such as Koraput, Jeypore, Jagdalpur and Dantewara would improve with commissioning of the new line.

While the new project sanctioned in 2016-17 will be commissioned with an estimated cost of Rs 2,676.11 crore, Rs 95 crore has been provided for the financial year 2018-19. Railway officials said the project was expected to generate direct employment of 31.3 lakh persons.

"At present, Malkangiri has no rail connectivity. The new line will provide basic infrastructure support for overall development, including industrial development of the area having large socio-economic ramifications. The project will provide connectivity this region and help provide economic opportunities to the people of these regions. This will also help in combating Left-wing extremism through development," said a railway official.

"Jeypore-Malkangiri rail line has finally been approved by Union Cabinet after two years. It was included in Railway Budget 2016-17 and MoU signed with State Govt in 2016. State will bear 25% of land and construction cost. All necessary support will be extended for timely completion," tweeted the office of the chief minister.

The rail link will be a boon for Malkangiri which is considered to be a Maoist bastion.