Reiterating his earlier demand, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday urged Railways Minister Suresh Kumar Prabhu to sanction Rs5,000 crore in the upcoming Railway Budget 2017-17 for development of railway sector in Odisha.
In a letter, the Chief Minister said the demanded package of Rs5,000 crore includes detailed proposals for enhanced provisions for the ongoing projects, sanctioning of new lines, upgradation of major stations, surveys, introduction of new trains, extension and increase in frequency of existing mail/express trains, improved passenger amenities at stations and on board services.
“Gross earnings from various stations in Odisha are estimated to be in excess of Rs14,000 crore during the year 2014-15. A cursory glance at the Railway map would tell you that, a large part of Odisha have remained untouched by the Railways. I urge Indian Railways to support the vision of the State Government to connect these backward regions with the railway network,” stated CM in the letter.
Emphasizing on two most important lines in Maoist-infested areas, Jeypore- Malkanagiri (going upto Bhadrachalam in Andhra Pradesh) and Jeypore - Nawarangpur, the Chief Minister informed that his Government has already given consent to bear 25 per cent and 50 per cent of construction cost of the two projects, respectively, and requested Prabhu to sanction these two new lines.