 "Naveen seeks Rs 3200 cr allocation in Rail Budget")
“I had a meeting with the Railways minister, Suresh Prabhu and urged the minister to recognise the poor rail density in the state which is hampering the pace of industrial growth. I asked him to allocate Rs 3,200 crore for new lines, doubling, electrification and passenger amenities. We have also demanded completion of all ongoing railway projects,” Patnaik told reporters in New Delhi.
Keeping in view the auspicious Nabakalebar festival of Jagannath Temple, Puri due in July 2015, Patnaik stressed on completion of the yatri complex at Puri railway station by March 2015.
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He also called for Budgetary provision for rail infrastructure in tribal dominated districts and areas affected by Left wing extremism in the state.
The chief minister apprised the Railway minister on five on-going railway projects, four of which were sanctioned about two decades back. These projects need to be completed in a time bound manner with provision of adequate funds, he pointed out during discussions.
The projects include Khurda-Bolangir rail project (289 km, sanctioned in 1994-95), Haridaspur-Paradeep SPV (special purpose vehicle) project (82 km sanctioned in 1995-96), Anugul-Duburi-Sukinda SPV project (90 km sanctioned in 1997-98), Talcher-Bimlagarh (154 km, sanctioned in 2004-05) and Jaleswar-Digha (40 km, sanctioned in 2010-11).
In the state’s pre-Rail Budget memorandum, Patnaik had demanded a sizeable allocation since earnings of the Railways from Odisha were projected at Rs 14,000 crore in 2013-14.
Stating that Odisha being one of the preferred destinations for investment especially in metal, mining and power sectors, he said, the state government is leveraging this opportunity to plan for orderly, systematic and comprehensive economic growth by focusing upon infrastructure development and creating dedicated industrial corridors.
“The nature of industrial activities in the state requires a robust and well planned railway infrastructure for its sustainability,” Patnaik had stated in his letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi last month.
Patnaik said, the central government has initiated many ambitious projects like dedicated freight corridor aligned with mega industrial hubs, national road expressways and high speed train projects which have completely bypassed Odisha although some of the country’s largest investments in the steel, aluminum and power sectors are lined up in the state.
In the letter, Patnaik pointed out about the inordinately delayed Khurda-Bolangir railway line which is on slow lane for paucity of funds. The state government has agreed to allocate land (including private land) in the Daspalla-Bolangir stretch (112-289 km) free of cost and share 50 per cent of construction cost for this segment.
Similarly, the state government has consented to bear 25 per cent of construction cost for Jeypore-Malkangiri project and to provide all land free of cost and bear 50 per cent of construction cost for Jeypore-Nabarangpur project in the backward KBK (Kalahandi-Bolangir-Koraput) area.