Provide adequate funds to Odisha in Railway Budget: House Comm

Seeking adequate funds for Odisha in the coming Railway Budget, a House Committee of the state today submitted a memorandum to Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu.
The committee requested railways to give top priority to Odisha and allot Rs 5000 crore towards ongoing railway projects, sanction of new lines, gauge conversion, doubling, dedicated industrial corridor, surveys, improvement of passenger amenities and introduction of new trains.
"It is requested that Odisha should be paid due attention for allotment of projects and funds in the ensuing Railway Budget 2016-17 so as to ensure not only the development of the state of Odisha, but also of the country as a whole," according to the memorandum submitted by the House Committee of Odisha assembly.

It said the state contributes more than Rs 14000 crore approximately to the revenue of Indian Railways, while the railway route length spread across Odisha is little less than 2500 km with an average of 15.03 km per 1000 sq km as against the national average of 19 km.
Odisha government has taken initiative to form Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) jointly with Railway Ministry to undertake project development, financing and implementation of railway projects in the state. An MoU for this purpose has been signed with Ministry of Railway on November 4, 2015.
Odisha government has 51 per cent equity in this SPV. In addition to that, another MoU has been signed between Odisha government, Ministry of Coal and Ministry of Railway on April 20, 2014 for taking up rail projects related to coal evacuation in Odisha.