Odisha gets Rs 6995.5 crore for railway sector
BHUBANESWAR: The Centre has allocated Rs 6995.5 crore for the development of railway sector in Odisha. It had allocated Rs 4,373 crore last year. One of the oldest and important projects of the state Khurda Road-Balangir new line received an allocation of Rs 1000.5 crore this year.
It was revealed by the data shared by the East Coast Railway (ECoR) on Thursday. The state had asked for around Rs 7,200 crore for the development of railway sector in Odisha.
Union railway minister Piyush Goyal late on Wednesday tweeted that allocation of railway budget for Odisha is Rs 5528 crore for the year 2021-22, while the ECoR here on Thursday clarified that the budget outlay was for development of infrastructure and safety related works for Odisha which does not include many other projects and estimates as they are not significant enough for mention at ministry level. “But for ECoR and Odisha, these are important development works. The funding for Odisha in 2021-22 under all plan heads combined is Rs 6995.58 crore,” said the ECoR statement.
One of the important old projects Khurda Road-Balangir (289 km) new line got the record allocation of Rs 1000.5 crore. It had received Rs 520 crore last year against Rs 350 crore in 2019. This new line project sanctioned in 1994-95 will connect western Odisha with Coastal part of the state. Khurda Road to Mahipur (77km) section from Khurda Road end and Balangir to Bichhupali (16km) section from Balangir end have been commissioned so far. Work of other sections is underway.
Another new line project Angul-Sukinda Road (98.7km) sanctioned in 1997-98 has received budget grant of Rs 400 crore against last year’s Rs 450 crore. Around 65 per cent of the project has been completed and the rest will be ready by end of this year. It is an important line for the industrial belt.
Another old projects Haridaspur-Paradip (82km) new line has received Rs 100 crore this year. ECoR sources said the new line project has been completed but the allocation will help in completing some station and its related works. It had received Rs 100 crore last year too.
Another recent project Jeypore-Nabarangpur (38 km) new line got only Rs 15.1 crore against last year’s Rs 20 crore. Similarly, Jeypore-Malkangiri (130km) new line received Rs 28 crore against last year’s Rs 33 crore. These projects are important to bring the tribal dominated Malkangiri and Nabarangapur districts on the railway map for development.
However, another important rail project Talcher-Bimalagarh (154 km) new line got only Rs 10 crore against last year’s Rs 140 crore and Rs 150 crore in 2019. Only 20km between Talcher and Sunakhani stations of the Talcher-Bimalagarh rail link (154 km) sanctioned in 2004-05 has been commissioned so far. Other sections in Angul and Sundargarh districts are witnessing inordinate delay because of land acquisition issues and forest clearance.
Some doubling, third line and fourth line projects have received allotment of more Rs 200 crores. Titilagarh-Vizianagaram third line has received Rs 300 crore, while Rourkela-Jharsuguda third line and Bhadrak-Nergundi third line got Rs 230 crore and Rs 229 crore respectively.
A new project Sambalpur-Gopalpur via Phulbani new line has received a token amount of Rs 1000. Angul Electric Loco Shed has received Rs 1 crore as the Railways has a plan for augmentation of holding capacity of this shed from 100 engines to 150. Wagon repair workshop at Maneswar in Sambalpur received allocation of Rs 10 crore against last year’s Rs 20 crore. Electric Engine Overhauling Workshop in Kalahandi has received Rs 1 crore.
The Centre has not sanctioned any other new lines. “Funding is to ensure that no progress is hindered for lack of funds. There has been a significant increase in outlay for passenger amenities, road safety works, in terms of road under bridge and over bridges, and LHS,” said the ECoR statement.
Rs 429 crore have been allocated for passenger amenities this year against last year’s from Rs 129 crore.