Centre approves ₹6995-cr rail lines in Odisha

The Centre has allocated ₹6,995.5 crore for the development of railway lines in Odisha this year as compared to ₹4,373 crore last year. One of the oldest and important projects of the state, Khurda Road-Balangir new line, received an allocation of ₹1000.5 crore. East Coast Railway (ECoR) informed that the state had asked for around ₹7,200 crore for the development of state's railway sector. This new line project sanctioned in 1994-95 will connect western Odisha with Coastal part of the state. Khurda Road to Mahipur (77km) section from Khurda Road end and Balangir to Bichhupali (16km) section from Balangir end have been commissioned so far. Another new line project Angul-Sukinda Road (98.7km) sanctioned in 1997-98 has received a budget grant of ₹400 crore against last year's ₹450 crore. Around 65 per cent of the project has been completed and the rest will be ready by end of this year. Another old project Haridaspur-Paradip (82km) new line has received ₹100 crore this year. Yet another recent project Jeypore-Nabarangpur (38 km) new line got only ₹15.1 crore against last year's ₹20 crore. Other sections in Angul and Sundargarh districts are witnessing delay because of land acquisition issues and forest clearance. Some doubling, third line and fourth line projects have received an allotment of more ₹200 crore. Titilagarh-Vizianagaram third line has received ₹300 crore, while Rourkela Jharsuguda third line and Bhadrak-Nergundi third line got ₹230 crore and ₹229 crore respectively.