Odisha prepares railway proposal worth Rs 8.4K crore for Union Budget 23-24- The New Indian Express | So Good News

Express News Service

BHUBANESWAR: Amid the political slugfest over new railway lines and divisions ahead of the Padampur bypoll, the state government has cleared proposals of around Rs 8,400 crore for improvement of railway infrastructure in Odisha, which will be sent to the Center for making provisions in 2023 – 24 budget. The proposals include ongoing projects, sanctioning of new lines, station modernisation, introduction of new trains, expansion of existing trains, improved passenger facilities at stations and services on board.

The state government has drawn up a proposal seeking to set aside Rs 100 crore in the railway budget for the 142-km Nuapada Road-Bargarh Road via Padampur line that has heated up the political climate in bypoll-bound Padampur with the Center and the state throwing mud at each other over delays in the implementation of the project.

The much awaited 289 km Khurda Road-Balangir broad gauge railway project has been given prominence with a demand of Rs 1,200 crore, followed by Rs 800 for 154 km Talcher-Bimlagarh, Rs 300 crore for extension of Nuapada-Gunupur new broad gauge link to Theruvalli ( 79 km), Rs 300 crore for 130 km Jeypore-Malkangiri new line, Rs 200 crore for 250 km Gopalpur-Rairakhol new line and Rs 150 crore for 38 km Nabarangpur-Jeypore new line.

An official said, Odisha generates annual freight revenue of around Rs 20,000 crore for Indian Railways. But the rail density in the state at 18 is much lower compared to the national average of 21 and that of the neighboring states of West Bengal (48) and Jharkhand (33).

“The state government has already partnered with Indian Railways to fill the viability gap and formed joint ventures/special purpose vehicles (SPVs) to accelerate expansion of railway infrastructure by financing construction directly besides providing free land. The proposals will be sent to ministry after approval by the government, he added. The proposed projects worth Rs 8,400 crore are about 10.5 per cent higher than the state’s demand for railway infrastructure last year. The government had demanded provision of at least Rs 7,600 crore in the Union Budget for 2022-23 .

</p> <p>BHUBANESWAR: Amid the political slugfest over new railway lines and divisions ahead of the Padampur bypoll, the state government has cleared proposals of around Rs 8,400 crore for improvement of railway infrastructure in Odisha, which will be sent to the Center for making provisions in 2023 – 24 budget. The proposals include ongoing projects, sanctioning of new lines, station modernisation, introduction of new trains, expansion of existing trains, improved passenger facilities at stations and services on board. The state government has drawn up a proposal seeking to set aside Rs 100 crore in the railway budget for the 142-km Nuapada Road-Bargarh Road via Padampur line that has heated up the political climate in bypoll-bound Padampur with the Center and the state throwing mud at each other over delays in the implementation of the project. The much awaited 289 km Khurda Road-Balangir broad gauge rail link project has figured prominently with a demand of Rs 1,200 crore, followed by Rs 800 for 154 km Talcher-Bimlagarh, Rs 300 crore for extension of Nuapada-Gunupur new broad gauge link to Theruvalli ( 79 km), Rs 300 crore for 130 km Jeypore-Malkangiri new line, Rs 200 crore for 250 km Gopalpur-Rairakhol new line and Rs 150 crore for 38 km Nabarangpur-Jeypore new line. An official said, Odisha generates annual freight revenue of around Rs 20,000 crore for Indian Railways. But the rail density in the state at 18 is much lower compared to the national average of 21 and that of the neighboring states of West Bengal (48) and Jharkhand (33). “The state government has already partnered with Indian Railways to fill the viability gap and formed joint ventures/special purpose vehicles (SPVs) to accelerate the expansion of railway infrastructure by financing construction directly besides providing free land. The proposals will be submitted to the ministry after approval by the government, he added. The proposed projects worth Rs 8,400 crore are around 10.5 per cent higher than the state’s rail infrastructure demand last year. The government had demanded provision of at least Rs 7,600 crore in the Union Budget for 2022-23.<br />