Union Minister Sinha accuses Patnaik of delaying various projects in Odisha

Union Minister of State for Railways Manoj Sinha on Monday alleged that various projects have been delayed in the state as Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik led BJD government is not facilitating the acquisition of land.

"We have given railway projects to Odisha, but many projects are not taking off due to delay in the acquisition of land," he said, while adding that his ministry has started work on several routes including Bichhupalli in Bolangir district on Khurda Road-Bolangir railway line.

However, he said that the state government had not been able to give 2,059.43 acre land in Boudh, 528.31 acre in Sonepur and 38.96 acre in Bolangir for railway projects. He also announced the extension of Gondwana Express train to Sambalpur via Jharsuguda Road.

Railway Minister Sinha, in the presence of Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, also dedicated various passenger amenities at Bhubaneswar, Brahmapur, and Talcher stations through video conferencing from the railway auditorium.

He also laid the foundation stone of new escalator at Bhubaneswar railway station and inaugurated escalator and foot over bridge at Brahmapur railway station and passenger amenities at Talcher railway station through video conferencing.

Sinha also announced the extension, increase in frequency and additional stoppage of some trains during the occasion. These include the extension of Hazrat Nizamuddin-Raigarh Gondwana Express up to Sambalpur via Jharsuguda Road, and increase in the frequency of Sambalpur-Howrah Express via Angul and Bhadrak from weekly to tri-weekly.

He also announced the stoppage of Bhubaneswar-New Delhi Rajdhani Express via Angul at Dhenkanal, Howrah-SSPN Express, and Haldia-Chennai Express at Balasore, Howrah-Kanyakumari Express at Bhadrak, Purulia-Villupuram Express at Jaleswar, Puri-Paradeep, and Puri-Barbil Express at Kanas Road, Howrah-Puri Dhauli Express at Markona, Puri-New Delhi Neelachal Express and Kendujhargarh-Bhubaneswar passenger at Dhanmandal railway stations.

Apart from this, Sinha also dedicated 280 rural wi-fi hotspots and wi-fi choupal project of Common Service Centre (CSC) for 100 Gram Panchayats of Jagatsinghpur district of Odisha, 400 2G-based transmission stations, and 480 3G-based transmission stations in the state.

Railway Minister Sinha also unveiled some CSR related projects, which include the Community Centre for Culture at Deogarh town, developmental works at Deogarh Panchayat High School, Adas, Primary School, Deogarh, and also inaugurated a public park at Purunagarh.