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It is good to know that issues such as port connectivity and elbowing of lines will receive a good deal of attention. But then one couldn't be sure of the outcome of such an initiative if the issue is left of Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd to handle. There are instances where the port connectivity and doubling projects have made little progress because RVNL is not convinced of their viability. The real problems facing the Railways are an acute con­gestion on certain busy freight routes and chronic shortage of locomotives. These prob­lems have not been addressed in the Budget.

As large parts of Orissa are being developed by East Coast Zone, the functioning of this Zone is of great interest to us. It was after long fight that this zone was created. Our impression was that it would be full fledged by now in its 10 years of existence. But that is not so. I will give you instances. In 2007-08, Sambalpur-Titlagarh and Titlagarh-Raipur Doubling project was listed. Asian Development Bank was supposed to finance this Rs.1680 cr project. Last year provision of Rs.10 Crore was made. The technical survey and de­tailed estimate was done by East Coast Railway and after that tender was floated. The area comes under East Coast Railway Zone. But Railway Vikash Nigam didn't entrust these job to the project implementation unit of East Coast Railways but has given one to Kolkata and another to Bilashpur Project implementation unit. Why this has been done? There has been cost escalation of high order. Almost double the amount of the project cost. Will the Minister look into it? Also appraise us the reason why the jobs were taken away from East Coast Zone.

            Likewise there is the Khurda road and Bolargir railway line which remains pending from a long time.  This is a tribal dominated area.  The people remain backward due to regional imbalance and negligence by the Central Government.  They remain cut off  from  the  mainstream.  That  is why ‘Naxalism’ is on the rise here.  Repeatedly we have demanded in this August House that the Khurda-Bolargir Railway Project work should be speeded up but in vain. The Central Government is unnecessarily delaying the release of fund.  Similarly we have many on going projects like the Haridaspur-Paradeep railway line, Angul-Duburi railway line, Sukinda-Tarcher-Bimlagarh line, Rupsa-Bangiriposi and Nuapada-Gunupur  railway  line etc. which  await allocation of funds.  People of these areas are now indulging in Naxalism and Maoism etc.  There are also some railway projects where doubling and electrification of railway line are very essential like Daitari-Banspani railway line, Talcher-Sambalpur, Haridaspur-Paradeep railway line Koraput-Rayagada, Sambalpu-Talcher etc.  There are many projects which awaits survey.  We draw the attention of the Railway Minister to ensure an early survey. Further, the second line for Khurda-Puri requires adequate allocation for which work may be expedited.