Good quality infrastructure is key to sustainable development, and the State Government has been focussing on power, water and roads for the State’s accelerated development, said Minister of Transport and Commerce Subrat Tarai at the Transport Infra Odisha 2013, a conference on Odisha’s transport infrastructure scenario and prospects here on Tuesday.
The Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) organised the conference in association with active cooperation of the Team Odisha (IPICOl).
Tarai claimed that Odisha has been one of the top three States for attracting investment in the country for the last decade and its economy has grown at an average rate of nine per cent during this period, which is higher than the national growth rate. Investors have committed around Rs 53,000 crore of investment in the State in 2012-13, which is 27 per cent share of all-India figure.
“The State Government is currently seeking Central assistance to upgrade Puri infrastructure and transport facilities ahead of the Naba Kalebar festival in 2015. It is also looking for private partnership to develop a Rs 5,000-crore National Waterways-5 to interconnect Brahmani, Kharsuan and Mahanadi rivers to the east coast,” informed Tarai.
He said the State Government has decided to complete two-laning of all the NHs by 2016-17. The State Government has also approved Rs 1,292.56 crore for four-laning of the State Highway between Sambalpur and Rourkela, which is the biggest project ever under the PPP mode in the State.
In the railway sector, there is a need of Rs 8820 crore for commissioning of various new railway line projects in the State. Similarly, the Paradip Port holds the second highest position in terms of cargo handled among all Major Ports. The coastal region of the State from Paradip to Gopalpur is to be developed into one of the five or six Special Economic Regions (SERs) in the country.
Taria also said the Biju Patnaik Airport has been modernised recently with an investment of USD 29 million. It will start its international operation soon. Besides, the State Government has announced three new low-cost airports at Brahmapur, Rourkela and Keonjhar.
This apart, a Talcher-Bimlagarh railway line is to be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 1,000 crore to carry coal, iron ore and passengers, informed Tarai.
Chairman of ICC State Expert Committee Vishal Agarwal said there are still a lot of challenges that need to be addressed by the State Government on a proactive basis so that a large number of investors from all sectors would take interest to invest in the State. The State Government should lay more emphasis on effective logistic connectivity, development of infrastructure project through PPP mode, policies related to rehabilitation and resentment and environment clearance at the Central and State levels and rationalisation of the tax structure for instant reduction on VAT on aviation turbine fuel to the desired level, etc.
Among others, Commissioner-cum-Secretary of Commerce and Transport Department G Mathivathanan, NINl MD PK Mishra, PPT Chairman SS Mishra, East Coast Railway (ECoR) COM GD Brahma and executive member of ICC State Expert Committee JB Pany also spoke at the meeting.