Orissa's KBK: Forgotten by all

Merinews, Feb 1, 2009

Kalahandi Balangir Koraput in Orissa is a backward region in all aspects and need special aid from the Union Government. However, the region is being ignored by all major players for industrial and agricultural developments.

KALAHANDI BALANGIR Koraput (KBK) region in Orissa is a multi-facet backward region due to hilly terrain, tribal population and natural calamities.

Thankfully, KBK region is considered along with special category states by Union Government of India when it comes to irrigation project. However, infrastructure development is the key to the success for such a backward region. Unfortunately, in railway development KBK is being neglected severely and has not yet been considered by Prime Minister of India to give special status along with special category states.
It is clearly evident from struggling ongoing projects since decades in KBK region such as Lanjigarh road – Junagarh and Balangir – Khordha road lines.

In last couple of years, Indian Railway has committed 50,000 crore investment only in Bihar for various ongoing and new projects, whereas Orissa, especially KBK, is being continuously neglected since decades by Indian Railway.

On the other hand, national politicians have often used backwardness of Kalahandi to show case their eagerness towards the poor people in the society though they fail to scrutinise high rate of unemployment among semi-skilled and skilled laborer in the region.

Lanjigarh road is located in the border of Kandhamal, Rayagada and Kalahandi. A factory based on engineering in Lanjigarh road/Bhawanipatna will enormously benefit Kalahandi, Rayagada, Kandhamal, Boudh, Nuapada, Balangir, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Gajpati, Sonepur and Malkangiri equally, as it is centrally located to all the districts.

Similarly, a new East Coast railway division in Lanjigarh road/Bhawanipatna will help to speed up the railway projects in Kalahandi, Rayagada, Kandhamal, Boudh, Nuapada, Balangir, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Gajpati, Sonepur and Malkangiri districts many of which are poorly connected by Indian railway.

I urge the government to specially consider railway project in -

KBK region as national project

Accomplish Lanjigarh road – Jungarh line completely in coming financial year
Complete Khordha road – Balangir line in 11th plan
Immediately approve Lanjigarh road – Phulbani – Angul line
Approve Junagarh – Nabarangpur – Jeypur – Malkangiri – Balachandar road line
Approve Kantabanji – Khariar – Dharamgarh – Ampani – Nabarangpur – Jeypur line
Establish a coach factory in Bhawanipatna/Lanjigarh road/Junagarh region
Establish a new East Coast railway division in Lanjigarh road/Bhawanipatna for railway development especially in KBK-Kandhamal-Boudh region.