Naveen Patnaik vexed over slow pace of Khurda-Bolangir rail link

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday voiced his discontent over the slow pace of implementation of the Khurda Road-Bolangir rail link, a long-delayed project.

Though work on the Rajsunakhala-Bolagada section was expected to be completed by June this year, it has failed the timeline, drawing the wrath of Patnaik. The chief minister has now stressed on extending the rail link project till Nayagarh by March 2017.

Stating that the state government was attaching special importance on the project, he stressed on expediting it by obtaining the necessary clearances. He also directed the authorities to commence work from the Bolangir section soon so that people can be benefited from the crucial rail link project.

Land acquisition has emerged as the key roadblock for smooth execution of the rail link.

For the 289-km Khurda-Bolangir rail link, the state government has offered land free of cost and also agreed to bear 50 per cent of the project cost.