The Pioneer, March 7, 2011
PIONEER NEWS SERVICE | BHUBANESWAR
Participating in the debate on the current Railway Budget in the Upper House of the Parliament on Friday, Rajya Sabha member Rama Chandra Khuntia dubbed it as a Budget catering to the needs of aam admi and pressed his litany of demands for Odisha.
Khuntia observed that the backward States of Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand should be given more emphasis and funds must be allocated rationally to the three neighbours.
He demanded that the proposed railway coach factory should be set up in Kalahandi while the proposed railway medical college and hospital should be set up in Rourkela apart from linking the holy Aradi Kshetra and Biraja Kshetra with railway connectivity.
Khuntia also demanded that two new divisions should be opened at Jajpur Road and Rayagada while the other plethora of longstanding projects of the State should be completed at the earliest inclusive of gauge conversions.
Among his other demands, he highlighted on the Multi Model Logistic Railway Parks at Kalinga Nagar, Angul, Jharsuguda, Rourkela and Choudwar. Khuntia also pressed for the stoppages of Rajdhani Express, Falaknama Express and Coromondal Express at the Jajpur Road-Keonjhar Road and for a second flyover bridge at the Jajpur Road station.
Arguing in favour of the agitated Talcher locals, he also demanded that since the Railways earn over `5 crore of revenue from the station per day, it must be modernised and almost all the express trains passing through it ought to be stopped for the benefits of the local passengers.
Congress member bats for State
Expressbuzz, March 7, 2011
BHUBANESWAR: Rajya Sabha member Ramchandra Khuntia has demanded that the Railways should set up a coach factory in Kalahandi district and a medical college in Rourkela as announced without further delay.
Participating in the discussion on the Railway Budget on Friday, Khuntia demanded more allocations for backward states like Orissa, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand in the budget.
Khuntia demanded creation of two new railway divisions at Jajpur-Keonjhar Road and Rayagada. He said adequate funds should be made available for the completion of Lanjigarh Road-Junagarh, Khurda- Balangir, Haridaspur-Paradip, Angul-Duburi, Talcher-Kanikagarh, Rupsa-Bangiroposhi gauge conversion projects, Nuapada-Gunupur Road, Talcher-Gopalpur, Puri-Konark, Rupsa-Bangiriposhi to Gorumahisani, Talcher-Chhendipada, Bhadrachalam-Malkangiri railway line projects.
The Congress member said a railway line survey should be conducted from Keonjhar Road to Dhamra port via Akhandalamani. Besides, multi-model logistic railway park should be announced at Kalinga Nagar, Angul, Jharsuguda, Rourkela and Choudwar.
He also demanded stoppage of Rajdhani Express, Faluknama Express and Coromandel Express at Jajpur Road and Keonjhar Road stations. Since Railway is earning Rs.5 crore daily from Talcher railway station, it should be connected with all the express trains. A second flyover should be constructed at Jajpur Road station besides modernisation.
He, however, said the Railway Budget is meant for the aam aadmi. The proposals to lay 1,300 km new railway lines, doubling of 867 km and gauge conversion of 1,017 km are illustrative of this, he reasoned.
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