Odisha BJP MPs meet railway minister, discuss about railway projects

BHUBANESWAR: BJP MPs from the state on Thursday met railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and discussed about different ongoing railway projects of the state. They also urged the minister to ensure overall development of railway sector in Odisha.
Bargarh MP Suresh Pujari, who was in the delegation, said they discussed about pending railway projects in the state and delay in handing over of land for new line projects. Railway Board chairman and other railway officers have also paid heed to our requests for development of railway sector in Odisha.
He said they have urged the Union railway minister to add Odisha portions of South Eastern Railway (SER) and South East Central Railway (SECR) zones in the East Coast Railway (ECoR) zone. Create a few more railway divisions in ECoR for better management and operation of the railway sections, he added.
“I have requested the minister to look into the proposal of Bargarh-Nuapada new line project via Padampur. This 142km rail line will give rail connectivity to Nrusinghanath Temple. After rail communication, this place will get more tourists and devotees,” he added.
The BJP MPs in the presence of Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan have given proposal to the minister about creating rail infrastructure in uncovered areas. They have discussed about Khurda Road-Balangir new line project, station redevelopment and other projects in detail. “I have discussed about railway projects of my constituency,” said Kalahandi MP Basanta Panda.
Vaishnaw said the MPs have discussed about different railway projects in Odisha. “We will complete the ongoing projects one by one. We will expedite the railway works through a holistic approach,” he added.
The railway minister will review the railway projects in Odisha during his visit to the state on August 16. He will take a 500-km train ride from Bhubaneswar to Rayagada on Monday. He will meet BJP workers there and conduct review of Jeypore-Nabarangpur and Jeypore-Malkangiri new line projects on the very next day. On August 18, he will visit western Odisha districts including Bargarh and Balangir.
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