Extend train service to Nayagarh, Odisha government tells ECoR

The State Government has directed the East Coast Railway (ECoR) to extend the passenger train service upto Nayagarh by May this year.
Image for representational purpose only.
Image for representational purpose only.

BHUBANESWAR: The State Government has directed the East Coast Railway (ECoR) to extend the passenger train service upto Nayagarh by May this year.

Work on the Bolagarh-Nayagarh section of the Khurda Road-Balangir rail line has been completed. The Railways have failed to meet the deadline twice in extending train service to Nayagarh, official sources said.

As per the original schedule, the Khurda Road-Rajsunakhala passenger train was to be extended to Nayagarh by December 2016. A revised timeline was set for March 2017. However, the train service was extended up to Bolagarh in March.

Chief Secretary AP Padhi who reviewed the progress of some major rail projects at a high-level meeting here recently directed senior railway officials to ensure that train service is extended up to Nayagarh by May without fail. Railway authorities have reportedly told the meeting that laying of track up to Nayagarh would be completed within a month.

Meanwhile, the State Government has handed over 1,411 acres of land to the Railways for Khurda Road-Balangir rail project. Additional land required for the project will be provided only after completion of socio-economic impact assessment as per the new Land Acquisition Act, 2013, sources added.

The progress of Khurda-Balangir, Talcher-Bimalagarh, Angul-Sukinda and Paradip-Haridaspur railway line projects were reviewed at the meeting.

Though land acquisition and diversion of forest land continue to be a major hurdle for ongoing railway projects in the State, the sources said the progress of land acquisition for Khurda-Balangir project is quite satisfactory.

Railway officials have been asked to expedite projects where land is available. They have been asked to complete the projects as per revised timelines.

It was revealed at the meeting that out of total 289 km of the Khurda-Balangir railway line project, work has been completed on 66 km from Khurda side. However, the progress from Balangir side is not very satisfactory.

The Centre has allocated Rs 7000 crore in the Budget for the Khurda-Balangir rail line.

The State Government has also provided land for construction of 43.5 km rail line of Talcher-Bimalagarh rail project which has received a budgetary support of Rs 250 crore in this fiscal.

The Government has handed over 1200 acre of land for Angul-Sukinda Road rail project which has been granted Rs 200 crore by the Centre in the Union Budget.

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