Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Monday took up the issue of pending railway projects in Jharkhand with Chairman of Railway Board Arunendra Kumar. After the meeting, the CM instructed setting up a high-level committee to prepare a detailed report on pending projects with emphasis on estimated expenditure and tentative duration for completing such projects.
The committee will comprise of Chief Secretary Sudhir Prasad, Secretary Finance, Transport Commissioner KK Soan and officials of Indian Railway. The committee’s report will also highlight the present status of projects in Jharkhand.
“Railway projects in the State had been started many years back and the State Government also provided funds for the projects. Execution of a project should not be so much delayed that the projects remains pending as generations pass,” said Soren.
The CM stressed upon according priority to near-completion projects instead of working on all projects at the same time and that the State Government will consider releasing funds for such projects based on the report of the committee. The committee has been asked to submit its report in two days.
Notably, construction of around 565 km of railway lines under six projects is proposed for Jharkhand for which the State Government has issued Rs 2,000-crore. But, only 365 km of railway tracks have been constructed. Projects which are delayed are facing a cost over-run and it has reached Rs 6000-crore which is an additional burden on the State. The State Government has now decided to sign project-wise MoU after the committee submits its report and it will ensure that the money is spent on the project for which it is meant for.
“We will discuss the issue of additional burden on the State Government due to Railway’s failure to work on time with the Prime Minister and will request the Government of India to bear additional expenditure (on projects),” maintained Soren.
The CM asked for reports on expenditure of funds provided to Railways so as to prevent financial misappropriation. Soren also stressed upon clarification on who should maintain 14 Railway over-bridges constructed by Konkan Railway.
“Many bridges are in bad condition and Kandra railway over-bridge has been completely destroyed,” pointed out Soren, adding in anguish that the “Railway Board must take demolished over-bridges in industrial areas with seriousness”.
The meeting focused on the contentious issue of inconvenience to people because of the railway track passing through Ranchi. The issue has been raised by several political parties and organisations from time to time but so far no answer has been found to the problem. Soren suggested that an over-bridge between Hatia and Birsa Chowk should be constructed on priority basis so that people can get a convenient medium of transport. CM also suggested that areas along railway tracks be freed from encroachment to construct an eight-lane road along tracks.
“Keeping in view the increase in population in next 20 years and transportation the Railway Board must prepare proposals for over-bridges,” asserted the CM.
Soren once again raised the disproportionate railway facilities in Jharkhand which contributes hefty revenue to the Railway’s kitty. The CM asked for a direct connectivity between Dumka and Howrah.
The meeting was attended by Finance Minister Rajendra Prasad Singh, Principal Secretary to CM SK Satpathy, Principal Secretary Finance Rajbala Verma and senior officials of Indian Railways.
Meanwhile, Chotanagpur Passenger Association has written an open letter the Chairman Railway Board and brought attention towards the long pending demand of direct rail connectivity to holy places such as Haridwar and important city’s such as luknow from capital Ranchi. The letter written by vice-president of the association, Ashok Nagpal also mentioned measures in the interest of passengers of Jharkhand.