Lok Sabha Debates
Need To Sanction Bargarh-Nuapada Via Padampur To Raipur Railway Line. on 23 December, 2015
Sixteenth Loksabha an> Title: Need to sanction Bargarh-Nuapada via Padampur to Raipur railway line.
DR. PRABHAS KUMAR SINGH (BARGARH): I would like to request the Honbie Minister of Railways to accord sanction to the proposed Bargarh-Nuapada-via Padampur to Raipur new Railway line during the year 2016-17. Survey for this Broad-Gauge Rail link was completed in February, 2003. Ministry of Railways subsequently updated the survey. The estimated cost of the project is Rs.4159 crores with a favourable rate of return of 18.32%. Rail infrastructure in Western Odisha has not developed adequately despite availability of huge natural resources, vast tract of land and surplus production of foodgrains and tourism potential. This B. G. Rail link will travel through two districts namely Nuapada and Bargah. Alternately, another route i.e. Bargarh to Raipur, capital city of Chhattisgarh may be sanctioned. This will provide shortest route (via Khurda - Bolangir line under construction) between Raipur and Bhubaneswar/Puri and also industrial belt of Chhattisgarh to ports in coastal Odisha. This will also be an alternate route for transportation of thermal coal and other minerals to Western and Northern India instead of longer route via Titlagarh. The famous tourist destination Nrusinghanath is located under Padmapur sub-division. Tourist coming to Nrusinghanath will get a shortest route by Railway connectivity. Therefore, keeping in view all these positive aspects, the Ministry of Railways is requested to accord sanction for the new Railway line.