Sambad, April 2, 2012
Tathya.in, April 1, 2012
While the State is facing tough time due to hostage crisis perpetuated by the Maoists, the Odisha Government has urged the Ministry of Railways to take steps to sanction three new railway lines as “National Projects” to help out the State Administration in the matter of Left Wing Extremism (LWE).
Chief Secretary Bijay Kumar Patanik has written a letter in this regard to Vinay Mittal, the Chairman Indian Railway Board (IRB) on 30 March asking him to take steps to sanction proposed railway projects such as Bhadrachalam-Malkangiri-Jeypore, Junagarh-Lanjigarh Road and Talcher-Bimalagarh on top most priority basis.
Chief Secretary has pointed out to the Chairman IRB that after repeated request from the Odisha Government, large parts of Odisha covering backward and Maoist prone regions of Kalahandi-Bolangir-Koraput (KBK) districts have remained untouched by the projects of Railways.
He said that the Ministry of Railways have been requested continuously through Budget Demands of the State to partner the vision of the State Government and make a concerted effort towards connecting these regions to the National Network.
In the meantime Gagan Kumar Dhal, Principal Secretary Commerce & Transport has initiated move with Ministry of Railways to expedite the process.
Mr.Dhal is in touch with to officials of Indian Railways as he is batting for KBK zone, which is one of the most backward region of the country.
Main objective is to foster development of the region, which will act as a bulwark to counter existing menace of LWE, said he.
New Railway Line Bhadrachalam Road(Andhra Pradesh)-Malkangiri-Jeypor-Junagarh-Lanjigarh Road-Talcher-Bimalagarh will connect the main Maoist affected areas and foster rapid growth.
Survey for this line has been sanctioned in 2011-12 Budget, however there is a need to complete the survey expeditiously, said he.
Similarly the survey of Sambalpur-Berhampur, new railway line, which was sanctioned in 2009-10, need to be completed and the sanction of the project to be done urgently, urged the Chief Secretary.
Immediate commencement of work on sections like Jeypore-Malkangiri and Bargarh-Bolangir-Nuapada via Padmapur, where surveys have been completed need to be sanctioned at the earliest, he urged.
This will create new and alternative corridors for movement of thermal coal and other minerals.
Lanjigrah-Junagarh rail line through Bhawanipatna also needs to be expeditiously taken up for completion.
In the meantime, MOU has been signed with BGR Energy for setting up 1320 MW thermal power project at Bhapur in Nayagarh district and 1100 MW power plant between Boudh and Sonepur by Visaka Thermal Power along the alignment of Khurda Road-Bolangir new broad gauge(BG) line.
Traffic for these power plants will move on this corridor, which need to be completed expeditiously.
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