Odisha CM urges PM to complete railway projects before Nabakalebara

Sambad English Bureau Published On : Aug 18, 2014 at 7:37 PM Updated On : Aug 18, 2014 at 8:46 PM

Reported by Chinmaya Dehury
Bhubaneswar, Aug 18:

Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik today urged the Prime Minister to ensure strengthening the railway infrastructure, plying of additional special trains and provision of basic amenities at the Bhubaneswar and Puri railway stations before the Nabakalebar festival in July 2015, which is expected to draw around 50 lakh devotees and visitors.

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In a letter to prime minister Modi, Patnaik said in order to cater to the huge number of pilgrims and visitors, the railway infrastructure needs to be strengthened and a number of special trains have to be introduced during the period.

“In order to ensure smooth running of the extra trains and adequate amenities to the passengers at Puri and adjacent to Bhubaneswar station, the infrastructure needs to be strengthened,” said the chief minister in his letter.

Expressing concern over the delay in the completion of Cuttack-Baraaga-Bhubancswar-Khurda railway tracks, he said that even though Railway has sanctioned 3 line between Khurda-Bhubaneswar-Barang and double line between Barang and Cuttack, the stretch between Bhubaneswar and Barang (16 Kms) is yet to be completed and so also the double line between Barang and Cuttack.

“The section between Khurda-Delang has double line, but doubling work between Delang-Puri (28 Kms,) is yet to be completed. In addition to this, a proposal has been sent to the Railway Board for conjunction of a small bye-pass line (1.3 Kms) costing around Rs 20 crore, avoiding Khurda Junction Station, so that trains ruining from South direction to Puri can directly go to Puri without detention at Khurda Station and subsequent reversal of engine. All these works should be taken up on priority basis so as to ensure completion well before July, 2015,” said Patnaik.

Patnaik also urged the Prime Minister to complete the basic amenities and facilities as well as the expansion of platforms at Puri and Bhubaneswar railway stations for the smooth journey and benefit of the passengers.