Odisha demands 'sizable' allocation in 2013-14 rail budget

In a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said, "The gross earning from various stations in Odisha is estimated to be in excess of Rs 14,000 crore during 21012-13. I would request you to ensure allocation of a sizable part of revenues generated from Odisha within the state to strengthen rail infrastructure."

Though the state generated high revenue for railways, the railway route length and rail density in Odisha is much below the national average as also substantially lower than those of neighbouring states, Patnaik said.

Though central government has initiated many ambitious projects like dedicated freight corridor aligned with mega industrial hubs, national road expressway and high speed train projects, it appeared to have bypassed Odisha, he said adding that some of the country's largest investments in steel, aluminium and power sector are coming up here.

As expected, Patnaik said, the growth in rail borne traffic will be in excess of 300 mtpa in next five years. "I have been requesting the ministry of Railways to put in place a time-bound infrastructure upgradation arrangement for the ports coming up on Odisha coast. A synchronised development plan between that of the ports and related rail connectivity is a necessity for maximising economic gains," he said.

Noting that areas hit by left wing extremism lacked adequate rail link, the Chief Minister sought national project status for proposed Bhadrachalam Road-Talcher rail link via Malkangiri, Jeypore, Lanjigarh, Sambalpur-Berhampur rail link via Phulbani and Rayagada-Gopalpur rail link via Bhismagiri.

The state government also proposed dedicated rail corridors in Angul-Talcher coal belt, Basundhara coal belt in Jharsuguda-Sundergarh and Bansapani-Nayagarh iron ore region.

In a separate letter to Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal, Patnaik sought introduction of at least eight new trains.