Bhubaneswar: The State Government Government has searched Rs 7,600 Crore in the Union budget for the development of train infrastructure with an emphasis on the strengthening of train connectivity to various ports, belts and districts dominated by tribes.
Official sources said demand included funds for various ongoing projects, new line sanctions, hotel modernization, recognition of new trains, an extension of existing trains, enhancing passenger facilities at the station, the formation of the railroad-based industry and multi-capital logistics garden .
The main port connectivity projects for which funds have been sought in the annual budget including RS 100 Crore for Jajpur Keonjhar Road-Dhamra Port via Jajpur and Aradi (95 km), RS 300 Crore for Talcher-Gopalpur Rail Link, RS 50 Crore for Paradip – Dhamra Rail Link and Rs 200 Crore for the Gopalpur-Sambalpur link.
“Even when Odisha produces annual income around Rs 20,000 Crore for trains, railroad density in the state is far lower than the national average and the countries as well as West Bengal and Jharkhand.
We have urged the center of the urgent need to expand The train network in the state and to bring the rail density to the level of side by side, “said a senior government official.
When making railroad infrastructure was the responsibility of the center, the official said the government had partnered with the Indian train to fill the variability gap wherever he was asked.
The state government has taken several initiatives along with the train to conduct new railways and corridors directly with construction financing, in addition to offering free land for the creation of new train projects.
While the RS 3,500 Crore has been sought for a variety of ongoing projects such as doubling and the construction of the third and fourth lines and hotel modernization, the state government has sought adequate funds for some important long-delayed projects.
These include Rs 1,000 Crore for Khurda Road-Bolangeir Line, RS 800 Crore for Talcher-Bimalagarh, RS 300 Crore for Jeypore-Nabarangpur Line and Rs 400 Crore for Jeypore-Malkangiri Line.
The state government has signed the MoU by train to bear most of the construction costs and to provide land free of charge.