No 'Garib Rath' for Orissa

Bhubaneswar(visakeo)The Union Ministry of Railway has allocated Rs 972.34 crore for the development of Railways in Orissa in its Budget though the State Government had demanded Rs 1,330 crore.The funds will be used for construction of new lines, gauge conversion, doubling and electrification during 2008-09. Though Railway Minister Lalu Prasad proposed introduce 10 Garib Raths, no Garib Rath was introduced for Orissa. "Where is the Garib Rath," asked Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in his reaction.However, the Railway Ministry has introduced new four trains for the State. The new trains are Bhubaneshwar-Mumbai Express (bi-weekly) via Sambalpur, Puri-Darbhanga Weekly Express, Paradip-Bhubaneswar Express (daily) and Keonjhar -Puri Express (daily). Though the State Government demanded an increase in frequency of six trains, the Railway Ministry has agreed to increase the frequency of only two trains. The two trains are Rajdhani Express (2421/2422) from two days to three days and Baripada-Bhubaneswar (three days to six days). Railway Authority will take up survey works for Junagarha- Ambuguda, Khurda road- Raj Athgarh, Kanatabanjhi-Rajkhariar, Ambapani- Nawarangpur- Jeypore and Banspani- Barbil.In the Railway Budget, Rs 242.43 crore has been allocated for the completion of the ongoing projects. But this amount is not enough to complete the projects. No emphasis has been given to expedite the rail projects in the industrial belt. Rs 20 crore has been allotted for Daitari-Bansapni, Rs 35 crore for Lanjigarh Road- Junagarh, Rs 32.43 crore for Khurda Road- Balangir, Rs 80 crore for Haridaspur-Paradip, Rs 60 crore for Angul- Duburi- Sukinda Road, Rs 10 crore for Talcher- Bimlagarh and Rs 5 crore for the Koraput- Rayagada project. Rs 40 crore has been allotted for Rupsa- Bnagriposi rail gauge conversion and Rs 10.41 crore for Nuapada -Gunpur.In the Railway Budget, more funds have been allotted for doubling of line. While the Orissa Government demanded Rs 500 crore for these works, Rs 641.10 crore has been allotted for doubling of line. State Commerce and Transport Minister Jaynaryan Mishra said the Union Rail Ministry had enhanced the allocation in order to meet its own interest and not Orissa's interest.

Rs 641.10 crore has been allotted for 18 doubling projects for 2008-09 as against Rs 449.51 crore for 2007-08. Rs 38.30 crore has been allocated to take up electrification works.

For the year 2008-09, two new doublings namely Banspani- Joruli, Jharsuguda- Champa 3rd line have been sanctioned. Earlier, the State Government had requested Ministry of Railways to sanction nine new rail links, doubling of three new rail links and electrification of four new rail links.