Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday urged Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu to provide a railway package of Rs 5,870 crore to Odisha for 2017-18.
“I have proposed a Rs 5,870-crore package on railways for Odisha for your consideration. This package will help both Odisha and Indian Railways in furthering their goals of economic and social justice,” Patnaik wrote in a letter to Prabhu.
The package includes detailed proposals for the ongoing projects, sanctioning of new lines, station modernisation, introduction of new trains, extension of existing trains, improved passenger amenities at stations, on board services, establishment of rail based industries and multi modal logistics parks, mentioned the letter.
Reminding Prabhu of the State’s contribution to the railways, Patnaik wrote, “Odisha generates an annual revenue for the Indian Railways in excess of Rs 15,000 crore and yet the rail density (15.0) in Odisha is much less than the national average (19.0), and much lower in comparison to the adjoining States (West Bengal: 43.4 and Jharkhand: 24.3).”
The Odisha Government has contributed majority equity in two ongoing railway SPV projects, Angul Sukinda Railway ltd and Haridaspur Paradip Railway Company ltd. It has has agreed to bear 50 per cent and 25 per cent of the construction cost of Jeypore-Nabarangpur and Jeypore-Malkangiri lines respectively. Further, the State has extended land free of cost for Jeypore-Nabarangpur railway tracks. Similarly, The State has committed to allocate all land for the Daspalla – Balangir stretch (from 112 to 289 km) of the Khodhaa-Balangir railway line free of cost and to share 50 per cent construction cost, he added.
“A cursory glance at the Railway map would show that a large expanse of Odisha has remained untouched by the Railways. I urge the Indian Railways to support the State Government’s vision to extend the reach of rail network to the farthest parts of Odisha. Some of the most important lines in this regard are Gopalpur-Singapur road New BG line (via Padampur, Ramanguda, Bankili), Bhadranchalam-Bimlagarh, Bargarh-Nuapada via Padarnpur, Talcher-Gopalpur, wrote Patnaik.
He further requested the Railways Minister to initiate the east coast dedicated freight corridor from Kharagpur to Vijaywada and east-west dedicated freight corridor from Jharsuguda to Bilaspur to ensure seamless movement of freight between the upcoming ports (Kirtania, Chudamani, Dhamra, Astarang and Gopalpur) on the Odisha coast along with the major port at Paradip and the vast northern and central hinterlands of India.
Besides the above new works, the CM also highlighted the slow pace of execution of Jaleswar-Digha new line, doubling of Sambalpur-Titlagarh, third line of Barang-Bhubaneswar, doubling of Titlagarh-Raipur, Talcher-Bimlagarh and Daitari-Keonjhar-Banspani lines.
Patnaik also urged for construction of new short railway links in mining and port areas like Puri-Konark (35 km), Paradip-Dhamra (80 km), Champua-Anandpur-Jajpur (138km), Baripada-Jajpur-Keojhar Road, Talcher-Angul (17 kms).
Besides, he mentioned that Jajpur-Keonjhar Road-Jajpur (via Aradi) link is equally important for pilgrims visiting the religious destination at Biraja Kshetra which can be comparable to Dwaraka and Kashi.
He lamented that the performance of Rail Vikash Nigam limited (RVNl) has remained dismal.
“Though I am glad that SPVs for Angul-Sukinda-Dubri and Haridaspur-Paradip rail links have been formed with participation of other stakeholders, the performance of the executing agency, Rail Vikash Nigam limited is far from satisfactory,” remarked Patnaik.
The RVNl has not been able to put all contracts in place and, hence, it instructed to improve their contract management and complete the two projects within the targeted timelines, he said.
Patnaik requested Prabhu to ensure that the proposed Bhubaneswar New Station constructed with international class facilities and requested him to commence detailed planning for rail based city transport system in the greater Bhubaneswar region.
The station is being executed by RVNl as part of Bhubaneswar-Barang third line project and the Ministry of Railways needs to ensure that the Bhubaneswar New Station building is equipped with all modem passenger amenities. Similarly, there is an urgent need to upgrade the passenger amenities at other important stations lik Puri, Bhadrak, Brahmapur, Cuttack, Jajpur-Keonjhar Road, Khordha Road, Rayagada, Sambalpur, Baleswr, Jharsuguda and Rourkela, urged the CM.
“To meet the travelling need of the daily commuters, DEMU/MEMU services should be introduced in Sambalpur-Jharsuguda-Rourkela, Cuttack-Paradip, Brahmapur-Balasore and Rourkela-Keonjhar corridors. A new train service from Puri to Mumbai via Sambalpur and Titilagarh has also become essential. The existing express service between Bhubaneswar and-Keonjhar needs to be extended to Jamshedpur via Banspani.” “For smooth transit of traffic and freight, augmentation of back-end system is very important. Electric locomotive Maintenance (POH) at Kalahandi, Wagon Factory at Sitalapali in Ganjam, Concrete sleeper plants at Kantabanji and Bandamunda, Skill Development Centres in KBK districts should be expedited,” demanded Patnaik.
He also requested Prabhu to establish new divisional headquarters at Rayagada, Jajpur-Keonjhar Road and Rourkela by extending the jurisdiction of the East Coast Railway (ECoR).