Odisha seeks Rs 5,870 crore package in Railway Budget

BHUBANESHWAR: Odisha seeks Rs 5870 crore from the coming Railway Budget 2017-18. Naveen Patnaik today wrote to Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu pointing out, as he has over the years, Odisha’s significant contribution to Railway revenues and its below average rail density.

With a State Gross Domestic Product 20% higher than national GDP, Odisha an emerging mineral and industrial hub needed investment in railway infrastructure to sustain its growth. Patnaik suggested a package of Rs 5870 crore that he said would “help both the state and the Railways in furthering their goals of economic and social justice” in a letter dated Decembre 20. These covered ongoing projects and extensions, sanctioning of new lines, modernisation of major stations and improved services as well as the establishment of rail-based industries in the state.

Odisha wants new lines --Gopalpur to Singapur Road BG Line, Bhadrachalam to Bimlagarh, Bargarh to Nuapada and Talcher to Gopalpur –that could also facilitate the movement of minerals from southern Odisha and provide shorter routes to Gopalpur port. It is also requesting work begin on the already announced East Coast dedicated freight corridor from Kharagpur to Vijaywada and east-west dedicated corridor from Jharsuguda to Bilaspur connecting Odisha’s existing and upcoming ports to the central and northern hinterlands.

Patnaik, in his letter, complained about Rail Vikas Nigam Limited for the delays in Angul-Sukinda-Dubri and Haridarpur –Paradip railw links. Odisha has formed SPV’s and offered to bear partial expenditure, provide land free of cost, and even share equity in various projects.

Patnaik also requested for a mass transit rapid system between “Smartcity” Bhubaneshwar and Cuttack, something he had pitched for last year too. He also wants an electro wagon maintenance unit at Kalahandi, a wagon factory at Sitalapali, Ganjam sanctioned.


The CM also asked for new divisional headquarters at Rayagada, Jajpur-Keonjhar road and Rourkela, extending the jurisdiction of East Coast Railways, which he pointed out, thanks to Odisha’s mineral production, was the “Number 1 loading railway.”

The state government has over years been disappointed about being under-served given the huge revenues it generates, particularly from export of iron ore. Patnaik had though been thankful for the “fair allocation” in Prabhu’s 2016-17 rail budget. The outlay of Rs 4682 crores was less than the Rs 5000 crore demanded but a 30 per cent increase from the previous year’s outlay.