Six New Line: Brahmapur-Phulbani-Sambalpur, Bargarh-Nuapara via Padampur, Bhadranchalam-Malkangiri, Talcher-Gopalpur, Gopalpur-Singapur Road new BG line and Lanjigarh-Talcher
Freight Corridori: Kharagpur to Vijaywada and East-West Jharsuguda to Bilaspur
Bauxi Jagabandhu Express from Khurda to Mumbai
Cuttack-Bhubaneswar Mass Rapid Transit System
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has sought a provision of Rs 6,500 in the Union Budget 2018-19 for development railways in the state.
The chief minister, Naveen Patnaik, in a letter to the union railways minister Piyush Goyal, on Wednesday has demanded for Rs 6,500 crore for expediting ongoing projects, sanctioning of new trains and new railway lines, station modernisation, and establishment of freight corridor.
He has demanded for six new railway lines such as Brahmapur-Phulbani-Sambalpur, Bargarh-Nuapara via Padampur, Bhadranchalam-Malkangiri, Talcher-Gopalpur, Gopalpur-Singapur Road new BG line and Lanjigarh-Talcher for the state.
In his letter, Patnaik wrote, “The State government has demarcated rail connectivity as a priority area with the mandate to extend reach of rail network to each and every district.”
Odisha has also expressed the need for detailed planning to introduce a rail based mass rapid transit system between twin cities Cuttack and Bhubaneswar.
Seeking a reorganisation of the East Coast Railways (ECoRly) administrative structures, the chief minister has suggested that new divisions be created with headquarters at Rayagada, Jajpur-Keonjhar Road and Rourkela. He has also suggested for extension of its jurisdiction to include Banspani-Padapahar, Bhadrak-Lakhmannath sections in Khurda Road division and Jharsuguda-Barsuan-Kiriburu, Rourkela-Nuagaon and Jharsuguda-Himagiri sections in Sambalpur divisions.
Stating that Odisha is fast emerging as the mining and metal hub of the country and the growth of rail borne traffic in excess of 450 million tonnes per annum in near future will likely put enormous pressure on existing logistic infrastructure, he has said that there is an urgent requirement of a dedicated freight corridor from Kharagpur to Vijaywada and East-West dedicated from Jharsuguda to Bilaspur to ensure seamless movement of freight between upcoming ports (Kirtania, Chudamani, Dhamra, Astarang and Gopal) and northern and central hinterlands in the country.
The chief ministrer has also requested the union ministry to sanction short links between Talcher-Angul, Paradip-Dhamra, Champua-Anandpur-Jajpur and Barsuan-Banspal-Barbil lines.
This apart, the CM has also proposed to bear 50 percent of construction and land cost for Puri-Konark line.
Patnaik has also sought early action from the minister for running of passenger trains in Angul-Dubri-Sukinda and Haridaspur-Paradip rail links and introduction of DEMU services for travelling needs of daily commuters in Sambalpur-Jharsuguda-Rourkela, Cuttack-Paradip, Berhampur-Balasore, Rourkela-Keonjhar via Barbil.
The state has demanded for a new train in the name of eminent freedom fighter Bauxi Jagabandhu from Khurda to Mumbai to commemorate the bi-centenary year of Paika Rebellion.
The chief minister has has also expressed concern over tardy progress of several projects including laying of new lines for Talcher-Bimlagarh and Jaleswar-Digha, doubling of Sambalpur-Titlagarh, Titlagarh-Raipur, Sambalpur-Talcher and Daitari-Keonjhar-Banspani and 3rd line of Bhadrak-Nergundi-Vijianagaram stretch.
There was a provision of RS 5100 crore in the Union Budget 2018 for railways development in the state. The provision included shares from the state and also out-of-budget funding.
