Odisha demands Rs 7,200 crore budgetary allocation for different railway projects

Bhubaneswar:  Ahead of the Railway Budget for 2021-22 Financial Year, Odisha Government has urged the Ministry of Railways to allocate Rs 7,200 crore for various projects.

While Rs 3,500 crore has been sought for different ongoing projects, including doubling, third and fourth lines, Rs 3,700 crore demanded for several new key projects.

While placing its demand, the state Government said Odisha contributes the maximum to railway revenue and athe Government has been financially participating for development of various projects. In this context, Odisha has legitimate rights to seek more and better railway services for its people. But the Ministry has withdrawn about 300 stoppages of passenger/coaching trains from Odisha without any consultation with State Govt and they need to be restored early.

The Government also urged the Railway Ministry to  expedite the process to introduce passenger trains on Haridaspur-Paradip railway line, which has been commissioned recently, for the benefit of people in Kendrapada district. Over 15 goods trains are plying on the route daily. The Government also requested the Ministry for timely arrangements to introduce passenger trains for Angul-Sukinda project,  which is currently under construction.

“There is virtually no progress on railway factory projects in Odisha. Both sanctioned works of wagon manufacturing factory at Sitallapali and the Electric Locomotive maintenance (POH) workshop in Kalahandi are languishing despite allocation of land for both projects free of cost by state Govt,” said an official statement.

Details of the demands for different rail link projects in Odisha for 2021-22 FY