Finally, the much-delayed Khordha-Balangir railway line project, which has been undergoing through uncertainty since 1994-95, would be completed within six years. It was informed by Commerce and Transport Minister Ramesh Majhi here on Sunday.
Majhi said a memorandum of understanding (MoU) would be signed in this regard between the Railway Board and the State Government very soon. For timely completion of the project, a special purpose vehicle (SPV) would be formed, he said.
The Minister said the Centre has agreed to the proposal of the State to complete the project work and has sent a draft MoU which has been approved by the Chief Minister. “The State Government has written a letter to the Centre on Saturday about the date for signing of the MoU,” he added.
Notably, out of the proposed 289-km-long railway line, work on a 53- km stretch from Khordha to Begunia has started, of which construction of 36 km of rail route has been completed.
When Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik proposed to the Railway Ministry that the State Government would provide land free of cost and bear half the project cost, the Centre agreed to the proposal and sent the draft MoU.
As per the agreement, the Centre and the State would contribute Rs 1,000 crore each while the latter would bear the Rs 400 crore for compensation towards land acquisition.