The BJP on Friday alleged that railway and industrial development has been severely affected in the State due to delay in availability of land, forest and environment clearance and other related facilities.
“Industrial and economic development in the country and the State are dependent of railway infrastructure.
Even as the Narendra Modi Government has taken historic steps for developing railway infrastructure in Odisha, the Naveen Patnaik Government has failed in providing land and facilitating availability of forest and environment clearance for implementing railway projects. Resultantly, both railway and industrial sectors have been affected in the State,” said BJP general secretary Prithviraj Harichandan at a Press meet here on Friday.
He alleged that the State Government is spending crores of rupees for holding Make in Odisha Conclave but is not taking any interest to expedite railway infrastructure, which is a basic need for industrialisation.
Harichandan said at least seven railway projects involving 1,042-km lines have been halted midway due to delay in land acquisition.
The total cost of these projects is estimated at Rs 12,321 crore, he said.
The projects include Khordha Road-Balangin railway line (289 km), Talcher-Bimalagarh railway (154 km), Haridashpur-Paradip line (82 km) and Angul-Sukinda (99 km).
He stated that the Modi Government has provided a total of Rs 20,213 crore during the last five years against Rs 4,190 crore given by the UPA II Government.
Among others, BJP State secretary Dr Lekhashree Samantsinghar and BJP Yuva Morcha president Tankadhar Tripathy were present.