--Transport Min Sahu informs House
PNS
: After engaging in a blame-game with the Ministry of Railways over Bargarh-Nuapada railway line via Padampur, State Transport Minister Tukuni Sahu on Thursday cleared the air saying the detailed project report (DPR) for the rail line is under the approval process.
 
While replying a question of BJD member Debesh Acharya, the Transport Minister said the Railway Board has accorded In-Principl  Approval (IPA) to the Odisha Railway Infrastructure Development Limited (ORIDL) for taking up preparation of a DPR for Bargarh Road Nuapada Road new railway line factoring conditions such as the land and RR cost to be borne by the Government of Odisha.
 
Subsequently, the ORIDL has prepared the DPR of the new railway line and the same is under approval process before submission to the Ministry of Railways for further action, she clarified.
 
Notably, since the Padampur by-poll held in December last, the Centre and the BJD Government at the State have been locking horns over the proposed Bargarh-Nuapada railway line project via Padampur sub division.
 
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik along with many BJD leaders and Transport Minister Sahu had taken a dig at the Centre and Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw over prolonged delay in execution of the project.
 
Sahu had written a letter to Minister Vaishnaw and requested him to reconsider the 142 km new broad-gauge rail line from Bargarh Road to Nuapada Road via Padampur, which was announced in 2018.
 
The project was “shelved” by the Centre in 2019 for not being financially viable, Sahu had written in the letter. In his reply, the Union Minister said the project work would start as soon as the State Government hands over land for the project. Vaishnaw had blamed the State Government for not approving the DPR for the project.