In the run-up to the Railway Budget for 2013-14, Odisha has pitched for a new railway line from Bhadrachalam (Andhra Pradesh) to Bimlagarh.
The new track, projected as the north-south corridor of Odisha will pass through Malkangiri, Jeypore, Junagarh and Lanjigarh. It is expected to serve the economically backward Kalahandi-Bolangir-Koraput region.
The state government has also requested for sanctioning of new rail projects like Bargarh-Nuapada via Padampur, Talcher-Gopalpur, Puri-Konark, Rupsa-Bangriposi to Gorumahisani, Berhampur-Phulbani, Khurda-Rajathgarh bypassing Bhubaneswar and Rayagada-Gopalpur via Gunupur.
It has also reiterated its demand for expansion of East Coast Railway’s (ECoR) jurisdiction by including Rourkela, Jharsuguda and Balasore area of South Eastern Railway and Ib area of South East Central Railway under ECoR’s control. A 23-member house committee of the Odisha assembly led by speaker Pradeep Amat called on Railways minister Pawan Kumar Bansal on Tuesday and submitted a pre-Budget memorandum.
