 "Naveen Patnaik")
"The total outlay for Odisha in this year's railway Budget is Rs 4,682 crore which is 30% higher than last year. We appreciate the enhancement in allocation but at the same time expect the Centre not to revise it downwards. Actual allocation in last Rail Budget was 35% less than what was announced," Patnaik said in his reaction to the Railway Budget.
He said, the state government was thankful to the Centre for extending the dedicated freight corridor from Kharagpur to Vijayawada.
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Patnaik, however, rued the lack of Budgetary announcement for a mass rapid transit system for Bhubaneswar at a time when the city has been chosen the best Smart City.
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Besides, the Railway Budget has only token allocation of Rs 1,000 crore for the previously announced wagon factory at Sitalapalli in Ganjam district while two new locomotive manufacturing units have been announced to boost 'Make in India' initiative, he added.
