Rly Budget slows down track work

The Statesman, March 01, 2007
Statesman News Service

BHAWANIPATNA,Feb. 28: People from different walks of life in Kalahandi expressed frustration over new Railway Budget which reduced financial allocation for the ongoing Lanjigarh-Junagarh railway line in the district. This Budget will not benefit the region, opined a cross section of people.
Incidentally, construction of 54 KM long Lanjigarh-Junagarh railway line was started in 1993 with an estimated cost of Rs 272 crore. However, due to poor funding, construction is going at slow pace.
During the last Budget, Rs 19 crore was allocated for the line, while Rs 12 crore was earmarked this time. In this context, Kalahandi Rail Yatri Sangh president Mr Jatin Das said that the Railways was not sincere about the project and such attitude will cause hindrance to the development of this backward region.
He added that as the Hirakhand Express was discontinued in 2005, Kalahandi region did not have a direct link with the state capital. He demanded that Hirakhand Express be reintroduced from Rayagada to Bhubaneswar via Kesinga and Sambalpur to cater for the area.
He also demanded the daily running of Vizag-Nizamudin Samata Express which is now running thrice in the week. All express trains passing through this route should have a halt of five minutes in Kesinga.
The Congress district unit is also critical of the Railway Budget. Mr Rasabihari Behera, president of the district Congress committee, deplored that instead of raising allocation in the Budget, the provision for the Lanjigarh-Junagarh line has decreased to Rs 12 crore from Rs 19 crore last year. Considering the funds being allotted each year, it will take more than 30 years to complete the project.
He said that for the speedy industrial and agricultural development in this region, this railway line will be a silver line. It will also pave the way to connect Ambaguda or Jagdalpur in later stage. Mr Behera also demanded the introduction of a train to Bhubaneswar via Kesinga and Sambalpur for direct link between state capital and Kalahandi.