Odisha CM urges Centre to grant approval for passenger train on Haridaspur-Paradip line

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today requested the Centre to give necessary approvals and certifications to run a passenger train on the newly constructed Haridaspur-Paradip line in August 2020.

In a letter to Union Railway Minister Piyush Goyal, Patnaik sought the required approval and certifications, so that a passenger train can be flagged off on the Haridaspur-Paradip new broad gauge line at the earliest.

“Under your leadership, railway projects are now getting commissioned faster and the benefits of rail connectivity will act as a key economic multiplier for people. With your intervention, the same benefit can accrue to the people of Kendrapada,” the letter read.

The project has taken extremely long time for commissioning but with continuous monitoring, it has finally come to commissioning stage, Patnaik said in the letter.

“The 82 km new line is connecting Kendrapada District to Railway map for the first time. As connecting all unconnected districts through Railways is a stated policy, my Government invested in equity as sought by Railways, to make this project economically viable,” the letter mentioned.

The railway project is being executed through a SPV company called HPRCL, in which the Government of Odisha, Ministry of Shipping and Indian Railways have equal stake.

The SPV Company, as per requirement, has already recommended the Ministry of Railways for approval for running passenger trains.

Odisha Government waived off all Stamp Duty, Registration Fee and Premium on land for the project. Besides, the State provided direct monetary equity support to the Railway project.