Naveen Patnaik seeks Rs 5,870-cr railway package for Odisha in Budget 2017

Odisha Chief minister Naveen Patnaik has sought an allocation of Rs 5,870 crore for the state in the Railways sector in the 2017-18 Budget.

The package includes funds for ongoing rail projects, sanctioning of new lines, modernisation of railway stations, introduction of new trains, extension of existing trains, improved passenger amenities at stations, on board services, establishment of rail based industries and multi modal logistics parks.

In his letter to Railways minister Suresh Prabhu, Patnaik impressed upon him to present a citizen-centric Budget for 2017-18 pertaining to Railways that fulfills the rightful aspirations of Odisha and its people. Pointing out that a large expanse of Odisha still remains untouched by the Railways, Patnaik has urged the Railways to introduce four rail links — Gopalpur-Singapur, Bhadranchalam-Bimlagarh, Bargarh-Nuapada via Padmapur and Talcher-Gopalpur.

Besides, to ensure seamless flow of traffic and ease access between industrial and mining areas and ports, the chief minister has asked for sanctioning short links - Puri-Konark, Paradip-Dhamra, Champua-Anandpur-Jajpur, Baripada-Jajpur Keonjhar Road and Talcher-Angul.

On dedicated rail freight corridors, he said, work on the east coast dedicated freight corridor from Kharagpur to Vijayawada and the east west dedicated freight corridor would ensure seamless movement of freight between ports and hinterlands.

Odisha generates revenues in upwards of Rs 15,000 crore every year for the Railways but its rail density (15.0) is less than the national average and compares unfavourably with neighbouring states - West Bengal (43.4) and Jharkhand (24.3).

With Odisha fast emerging as the mining and metal hub of the country, growth in the state's rail borne traffic is projected to be in excess of 450 million tonne in the next five years.

Also, with Cuttack and Bhubaneswar being developed as a twin city with the combined population pegged at 2.7 million by 2021, a Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) is necessitated, said Patnaik.