The State Congress on Friday urged the BJD and the BJP to rise over party lines and demand in interest of Odisha more allocation in the Railway Budget for development of railway infrastructure in the State. The Indian Railways is getting a revenue of more than Rs 15,000 crore from Odisha; so, at least Rs 10,000 crore should be sanctioned in the coming Budget for the railway projects in the State, said party spokesperson Nishikant Mishra, He demanded that a delegation of the Odisha Assembly Committee meet Railway Minister Piyush Goyal before the Railway Budget is tabled in Parliament and press for more allocations for the State.
The State Government should formally request the Central Government for more funds. The State Transport Minister and all Odisha MPs should meet the Railway Minister in this connection, Mishra said.Besides, the work of the Khurda-Balangir railway line, which was sanctioned during the tenure of the Congress, should be expedited, demanded he.