Land acquisition for major Odisha rail projects by 2015-end

Govt-owned land has already been handed over for four projects

With delay in land acquisition slowing the pace of major railway projects in Odisha, the state government has targeted to complete the land takeover process for such projects by the end of 2015.

“Land acquisition for major rail projects like Khurda Road-Bolangir, Paradeep-Haridsapur and Angul-Duburi-Sukinda Road is moving ahead at a good pace. We hope to complete the land acquisition for these projects by the end of 2015”, minister for commerce & transport Ramesh Majhi said in a written reply to the state assembly.

The minister said, the state has handed over advance possession to the Railways in respect of government land for four rail projects, Khurda Road-Bolangir, Paradeep-Haridaspur, Angul-Duburi-Sukinda Road and Talcher-Bimalagarh.

Besides, substantial private land has been handed over to the Railways for these projects- Khurda Road-Bolangir (1095.91 acres), Paradeep-Haridaspur (1250.69 acres), Angul-Duburi-Sukinda Road (1016.44 acres) and Talcher-Bimalagarh (168 acres).

While the Khurda Road-Bolangir rail project was sanctioned in 1994-95, Paradeep-Haridaspur, Angul-Duburi-Sukinda Road and Talcher-Bimalagarh were approved in 1996-97, 1997-98 and 2004-05 respectively.

It may be noted to expedite the work on Khurda-Bolangir rail line, the state has offered to provide government land free of cost and also bear half of the construction cost.

The Railway Budget for 2014-15 has announced Rs 100 crore each for Khurda Road-Bolangir, Angul-Duburi-Sukinda Road and Talcher-Bimalagarh rail links while the Paradip-Haridaspur project has been allocated Rs 187 crore.